The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in its latest report, has indicated that the El Niño meteorological phenomenon, at its maximum intensity recorded in December, is among the five strongest ever recorded. The WMO predicts that this phenomenon will continue to cause above-normal temperatures in land areas until May, raising additional concerns about climate change.
“Higher than normal temperatures are expected in almost all land areas between March and May,” highlighted the WMO, an entity linked to the United Nations. Although El Niño gradually weakens, it is anticipated to continue affecting the global climate in the coming months, intensifying the heat captured by greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.
El Niño, a natural phenomenon that involves the warming of a large area of the tropical Pacific, occurs every two to seven years and persists for nine to 12 months. This phenomenon not only alters the atmosphere at a global level, but also contributes to already existing climate disturbances due to human activities.
The WMO warns that there is approximately a 60% chance of El Niño persisting between March and May, and an 80% chance of neutral conditions (without El Niño or La Niña, the opposite phenomenon) from April to June.
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Regarding temperatures, the Argentine meteorologist who heads the WMO, Saulo, highlights the “worrying” situation, mentioning that El Niño has contributed to the record temperatures, but greenhouse gases are mainly responsible. Despite the clear influence of El Niño on equatorial Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, a persistent and exceptional increase in sea surface temperatures is observed in other parts of the world.
The current El Niño event, which began in June 2023, peaked between November and January, recording maximum values of approximately 2.0°C above the average sea surface temperature for the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean. compared to the period from 1991 to 2020.
The WMO also points out the possibility that La Niña, a phenomenon that lowers temperatures, will develop later this year, after a period of neutral conditions between April and June. These climate events underscore the urgent need to address climate change and its consequences around the world.
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