El Niño

El Niño

Climatic phenomenon occurring in the Pacific Ocean

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a global climate phenomenon that emerges from variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific Ocean. Those variations have an irregular pattern but do have some appearance of cycles. The occurrence of ENSO is not easily predictable. It affects the climate of much of the tropics and subtropics, and has links (teleconnections) to higher-latitude regions of the world. The warming phase of the sea surface temperature is known as "El Niño" and the cooling phase as "La Niña". The Southern Oscillation is the accompanying atmospheric oscillation, which is coupled with the sea temperature change.

Also known as...ENSO
Record-Breaking El Niño Expected This Year

Record-Breaking El Niño Expected This Year The ongoing El Niño is forecast to break all strength records, sparking global drought and flood fears.