top of page

"How human activities affect the ENSO cycle" by Edward Yoon




The possibility that the worldwide climatic pattern known as El Nino will develop by the end of summer has increased, according to recent reports from the World Meteorological Organization, which will boost the likelihood of above-average temperatures in 2024. Even a weak El Nino event could have an impact on global rainfall and temperature patterns, while its strength is still unknown.


The central and eastern tropical Pacific region has sea surface temperatures that are higher than usual during an El Nino. It is a component of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which also encompasses La Nina, its opposite. The annual fluctuation in weather conditions around the planet is greatly shaped by this cycle. El Nino causes rain and lower temperatures over a large portion of the southern United States as well as warmer temperatures over some northern regions. In other parts of the world, Australia, Indonesia, and certain regions of South Asia are experiencing extreme drought, while rainfall may increase in southern South America and the Horn of Africa.


Scientists continue to study how human activities affect the ENSO cycle in order to address the serious issue of climate change. According to some studies, as the climate continues to warm, El Nino episodes could become more extreme. El Nino and La Nina events are a natural occurrence, but research indicates that climate change has increased wet and dry global extremes, lengthened heat waves, and warmed winters. The previous eight years have been the hottest on record, adding alarmingly to a long-term trend of rising temperatures globally as greenhouse gasses are still being released into the atmosphere as a result of the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas.


El Nino formation is predicted by the World Meteorological Organization to occur 60% of the time between May and July and 80% of the time between July and September. The forecasts are based on both climate modeling and measurements of wind patterns and ocean temperatures. Similar predictions were made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last month. Both organizations emphasize that although El Nino events are linked to particular conditions, they are unique every time. The coldest year of any decade will be a La Nina year, according to statistics from NOAA's National Environmental Information Center, while the warmest year will be an El Nino year.


In conclusion, the World Meteorological Organization predicts a higher chance of El Nino developing by the end of the summer, which will raise the possibility of warmer-than-average temperatures in 2024. El Nino and La Nina are natural occurrences that are a part of the ENSO cycle, which has a significant impact on determining yearly changes in global weather patterns. Wet and dry extremes, lengthier heat waves, and warmer winters have all been brought on by climate change. Although El Nino and La Nina are natural occurrences, human activities can have an impact on their frequency and intensity.


Comments


bottom of page