NASA Detects New Clue That El Niño Has Returned
Summary
NASA satellites have detected higher sea surface heights in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, confirming the return of El Niño in June 2026. NOAA expects this warm ocean event to grow stronger through the winter of 2026-27 and possibly become one of the strongest since 1950.Key Facts
- NASA’s Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite measured rising sea surface heights, a sign of warmer water linked to El Niño.
- El Niño is a natural climate event marked by warmer ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific.
- Warmer water expands and raises sea levels, which satellites can track to identify El Niño conditions.
- Early signs of El Niño were detected earlier in 2026 by warm water waves called Kelvin waves moving eastward.
- The thermocline, or boundary between warm surface water and cooler deep water, lowers during El Niño, reducing cool water upwelling.
- NOAA declared El Niño conditions on June 11, 2026, and predicted a 63% chance of a very strong event during November-January.
- El Niño influences global weather patterns, including temperature and precipitation changes, and happens every 2 to 7 years on average.
- El Niño lasts about 9 to 12 months and is the warm phase of a larger cycle known as ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation).
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