El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming alters atmospheric circulation patterns, influencing global weather and climate. El Niño events typically occur every 2 to 7 years and have far-reaching impacts, such as droughts, floods, and changes in precipitation patterns. These effects can disrupt ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources, affecting communities worldwide. El Niño is part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate cycle, with its counterpart, La Niña, representing periods of cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures. The ability to predict and understand El Niño events is crucial for anticipating and mitigating their diverse and often severe consequences on a global scale.
El Niño
El Niño is a climate phenomenon marked by periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming influences atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to widespread impacts such as droughts, floods, and disruptions in precipitation. El Niño events occur every 2 to 7 years, affecting ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources globally. As part of the broader El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, understanding and predicting these events is essential for managing and mitigating their far-reaching consequences.