EL NINO RETURNS AFTER 7 YEARS

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Context: The return of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, as announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States.

Details

• El Niño is a climate pattern that occurs in the equatorial Pacific Ocean every 2 to 7 years.
• It is characterized by unusual warming of surface waters along the central and east-central Pacific Ocean.

Mechanism and Causes of El Niño:

• El Niño is a result of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate cycle.
• During El Niño, trade winds weaken or reverse, causing warm water to move into the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Global Impacts of El Niño:

• El Niño is associated with severe heat waves, floods, and droughts worldwide.
• It increases the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in different regions.

Severity of the 2023 El Niño Conditions:

• The 2023 El Niño event is the fifth since 2000, occurring approximately every 4-5 years.
• Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean have been rapidly warming, surpassing predictions.
• The Niño 3.4 index, a vital indicator of El Niño, crossed the threshold value of 0.5 degrees Celsius.

Impact on Indian Monsoon Season:

• In India, there is a correlation between El Niño events and poor rainfall.
• Over the last hundred years, 13 out of 18 drought years in India were associated with El Niño.
• The frequency of El Niño events has been increasing over time, with 15 occurrences from 1951-2021.

Concerns for India:

• The 2023 El Niño event may affect the monsoon season in India.
• Rapid warming following three years of La Niña is unusual and could disrupt rainfall patterns.
• Climate change can exacerbate certain impacts of El Niño, leading to new temperature records.

Historical Data:

• Between 1900 and 1950, there were 7 El Niño years in India.
• From 1951-2021, there were 15 El Niño years, indicating an increasing frequency of El Niño events.
• Nine out of the 15 El Niño years during 1951-2021 recorded deficient monsoon rains.

Expert Insights:

• NOAA scientists highlight the potential impact of climate change on El Niño and associated phenomena.
• Climate change could lead to new temperature records, particularly in regions already experiencing above-average temperatures.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/el-nino-noaa-warming-pacific-ocean-meaning-explained-8653916/