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What is El Niño?

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Quick answer

El Niño is a natural climate pattern in which the central and eastern Pacific Ocean becomes unusually warm, shifting weather worldwide. It can bring floods to some regions and droughts to others, disrupting rainfall, fishing, and temperatures across the globe.

Key things to understand

  1. It's a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean.
  2. It weakens the usual trade winds and shifts rainfall patterns.
  3. It can cause floods, droughts, and unusual temperatures worldwide.
  4. It alternates with a cool phase called La Niña.
  5. It recurs irregularly, every few years.

People also ask

What is El Niño?
A climate pattern where the tropical Pacific warms unusually, shifting winds and rainfall and affecting weather around the world.
What's the difference between El Niño and La Niña?
El Niño is the warm phase of the Pacific cycle; La Niña is the cool phase, and they bring roughly opposite weather effects.
How often does El Niño happen?
Irregularly — typically every two to seven years, lasting around nine months to two years.

Part of the guide: Water & Weather Phenomena →