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.
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest interannual variability signal in Earth's climate system. The shifts between its warm and cold phases profoundly impact global extreme weather, ecosystems, and economic ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 4, 2025
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A recent study reveals how a major global climate pattern influences the African weather systems that help seed Atlantic hurricanes. The findings, published in the Journal of Climate, could lead to better seasonal forecasts ...
Earth Sciences
Sep 3, 2025
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Earth's climate is a dynamic system of interconnected physical processes and events occurring around the globe. Many of these processes are coupled so that changes in one event or process in one geographical area will result ...
Earth Sciences
Aug 19, 2025
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Insects are arguably the most important animals on the planet. Their variety is unparalleled in nature, and they carry out vital tasks such as pollinating plants and providing food for other animals.
Ecology
Aug 10, 2025
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The butterfly effect suggests that small changes in a system can have a large impact on eventual outcomes. One metaphor used to illustrate this concept is a butterfly flapping its wings only to cause a hurricane across the ...
Earth Sciences
May 28, 2025
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A Monash University-led study is prompting scientists to rethink how the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) system evolved and how it might behave in the future as our climate continues to change.
Earth Sciences
May 26, 2025
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A new international study led by researchers at Tulane University shows that the El Niño and La Niña climate patterns affect nearly half of the world's mangrove forests, underscoring the vulnerability of these vital coastal ...
Earth Sciences
May 23, 2025
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The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is known to have a significant impact on climate across the Pacific, including Hawai'i, and adjacent continents. However, new research led by University of Hawai'i at Mānoa atmospheric ...
Earth Sciences
May 12, 2025
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See you later La Niña, we hardly knew you.
Environment
Apr 10, 2025
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El Niño, a climate troublemaker, has long been one of the largest drivers of variability in the global climate. Every few years, the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean seesaws between warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) phases. ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 6, 2025
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