El Niño is a climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and impacts weather all over the world. It is the “warm phase” of a larger phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) . El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. During El Niño events, trade winds weaken along the Equator, causing changes in air pressure and wind speed. El Niño can affect weather significantly, causing increased flooding in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Southeast, while areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual. El Niño can also bring tropical species, like yellowtail and albacore tuna, into areas that are normally too cold.

El Niño and La Niña are two opposing climate patterns that result from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. La Niña is the “cool phase” of ENSO, describing the unusual cooling of the region’s surface waters. During La Niña events, trade winds are even stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia.

El Niño and La Niña can both have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies. Depending on its strength, El Niño can cause a range of impacts, such as increasing the risk of heavy rainfall and droughts in certain locations around the world. El Niño can also lead to new records for temperatures, particularly in areas that already experience above-average temperatures during El Niño.

In summary, El Niño is a climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and impacts weather all over the world. It is the “warm phase” of a larger phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño can affect weather significantly, causing increased flooding in some areas and dryer and warmer conditions in others.