Whether it’s ‘super’ or ‘Godzilla,’ El Niño is already breaking records
In the coming months, the world will get a glimpse of life on an even hotter planet.
El Niño, a natural weather phenomenon, has been making headlines for its potential to break records and exacerbate global warming. This year's El Niño, described as "jaw-dropping" and possibly one of the strongest on record, has already prompted California to declare a state of emergency. A study predicts that it could lead to up to 451,000 premature deaths worldwide by February.
The event has been dubbed a "super El Niño" by climatologist Jeffrey Shaman, a designation that, while not officially recognized, serves to emphasize the significance of this year's El Niño to the public. The phenomenon, characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has far-reaching effects, driving extreme weather patterns across the globe and threatening agricultural regions with crop failures.
While global warming has been linked to more frequent El Niño events, the combination of El Niño and climate change is expected to result in devastating consequences, potentially warming the world to levels seen by 2040. Scientists are bracing for a significant event, recognizing that this year's El Niño will provide a glimpse into the future of unabated warming and an opportunity to address climate change before it's too late.
Written by urgent.news from Grist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
