El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomenon centered in the tropical Pacific, characterized by quasi-periodic fluctuations between warm (El Niño), cold (La Niña), and neutral phases. It arises from interactions between equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies, changes in thermocline depth, and variations in trade winds and the Walker circulation. ENSO modulates global atmospheric circulation, influencing precipitation patterns, temperature anomalies, and extreme weather frequency worldwide. It is a primary source of interannual climate variability and is represented and predicted in climate models using indices such as Niño 3.4 and the Southern Oscillation Index, with substantial implications for seasonal forecasting and climate impact assessments.
Borneo in Indonesia, home to pristine rainforest and protected species, is burning. Meteorologist Safillah Anggie Wahyuni hopes a solution lies in the clouds.
Environment
Aug 18, 2026
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Clean-up efforts were underway Sunday as Hurricane Lala, which was downgraded to a tropical storm, rolled past Hawaii's Big Island and dumped heavy rain across the U.S. Pacific state.
Environment
Aug 17, 2026
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Hurricane Lala was pulling away from Hawaii's Big Island early Sunday as heavy rain and strong winds struck the U.S. Pacific state and officials warned of potentially dangerous flooding.
Environment
Aug 16, 2026
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Economic losses from natural catastrophes worldwide are estimated to have reached $100 billion in the first half of this year, reinsurance group Swiss Re said Tuesday, a sharp decline from the same period last year.
Environment
Aug 11, 2026
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According to the 36th annual State of the Climate report, greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level and ocean heat content all reached record highs in 2025.
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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July 2026 marked the hottest month on record for the contiguous United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday, continuing a recent trend driven by human-caused climate change.
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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Western Europe experienced its hottest June–July on record as climate change fuels a historic summer of heat, drought and wildfires across the region, the EU's global warming monitor said Monday.
Environment
Aug 10, 2026
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Wildfires are burning in North America and Europe. Deadly heat waves have parked over cities and the world's oceans are the hottest ever recorded for this time of year. A strengthening El Niño is forecast to be off-the-charts, ...
Environment
Aug 4, 2026
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El Niño continues to intensify steadily and is expected to dominate global climate patterns in the August to October 2026 season, increasing the likelihood of above-normal temperatures across much of the world and driving ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 3, 2026
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More than 100 shallow lakes stretching over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) along the Atlantic coast of southern Brazil and Uruguay could become one of the world's most important natural laboratories for understanding how climate ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 3, 2026
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