El Niño climate patterns supercharged by burning of fossil fuels, study finds
Summary
A new study found that human-caused global warming is making El Niño events stronger. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that heats parts of the Pacific Ocean every few years and affects weather worldwide. The study shows recent strong El Niños, like the current “Godzilla” event, are linked to rising global temperatures caused by burning fossil fuels.Key Facts
- El Niño occurs every 2 to 7 years when the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean heats up.
- This warming affects weather globally, often bringing hotter temperatures and altered rain patterns.
- Recent El Niño events have become stronger and more frequent since the late 19th century.
- The current El Niño, called a “Godzilla” event, is expected to be the strongest in living memory.
- Burning fossil fuels has caused global temperatures to rise, which in turn makes El Niño events more intense.
- Scientists studied coral fossils from the Galápagos Islands to track ocean temperatures over 1,000 years.
- Since 1982, variability in El Niño events has increased by about 37% compared to preindustrial times.
- The findings suggest climate change could make very strong El Niño events more common in the future.
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