El Niño is now stronger than at any point in the last 1,000 years, study finds

El Niño, characterized by warm ocean temperatures, has reached unprecedented strength in the past 1,000 years, according to a new study. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which consists of El Niño and its counterpart La Niña, significantly influences global weather patterns. The study, conducted by Julie Cole and her team at the University of Michigan, analyzed a 1,000-year-long ocean surface temperature record using fossilized Galápagos corals.

The findings reveal that recent El Niño events, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, are not only stronger but also more dramatic than any observed in the past millennium. This suggests that global warming, by adding energy to the atmosphere and oceans, is intensifying the swings of the ENSO system.