'Most Intense' In Over A Century: How This Year's El Nino May Impact World
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Climate change & international agreements· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Climate scientists warn that the current El Niño cycle may be the strongest on record, potentially making 2027 the hottest year ever recorded.
Background
El Niño is the warming phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. Current Pacific sea temperatures are 2.6°C above average, with a projected peak of 3.9°C in November. Scientists project 2027 could reach 1.76°C above pre-industrial levels.
Facts for Prelims
- S&TENSO: El Niño-Southern Oscillation is a natural climate cycle involving the warming of surface waters in the tropical Pacific.
- FactNino 3.4 region: An imaginary box in the Pacific used to monitor sea surface temperatures for El Niño tracking.
- EnvironmentEl Niño mechanism: Occurs when trade winds ease, allowing warm water to move eastward and rise to the surface.
- FactCurrent anomaly: Sea surface temperatures are currently 2.6°C above the 30-year average.
For Mains
Q. Discuss how extreme climatic phenomena like El Niño exacerbate the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on global biodiversity and food security.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- impact on monsoon patterns
- threat to agricultural yields
- biodiversity loss due to heatwaves
- mitigation through climate resilience
Keywords: ENSO · anthropogenic climate change · thermal anomaly · climate resilience · meteorological forecasting
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