El Niño planet-warming weather phase has begun
The Pacific Ocean has entered into an El Niño phase, a natural weather phenomenon that is likely to exacerbate global warming caused by climate change. US scientists have confirmed the onset of El Niño and predict that it will make 2024 the hottest year on record, potentially pushing the world past the critical 1.5°C warming threshold.
The effects of El Niño will also impact global weather patterns, potentially leading to drought conditions in Australia, increased rainfall in the southern United States, and a weakening of India’s monsoon season. This El Niño event is expected to persist until the following spring, after which its impacts will gradually diminish.
Scientists have been observing signs of an emerging El Niño in the Pacific Ocean for several months, and they anticipate it reaching its peak intensity by the end of this year. Adam Scaife, the head of long-range predictions at the UK Met Office, stated that the likelihood of a new global temperature record in 2024 is high if the El Niño turns out to be significant.
