In an unusual climatic twist, both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are experiencing cooling phenomena known as “Ninas,” offering a potential respite from the record-high ocean temperatures that have persisted for months. This cooling could bring some relief to vulnerable coral reef ecosystems and may impact the Atlantic hurricane season.
The cooling effects are due to two related climate patterns: La Nina, occurring in the tropical Pacific, and the lesser-known Atlantic Nina. La Nina, a component of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation, typically cools sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, altering global weather patterns. On the other hand, Atlantic Nina, which has a more localized impact, is now cooling waters along the equator in the Atlantic.
While both phenomena can influence the Atlantic hurricane season, the cooling brought by Atlantic Nina could reduce the risk of hurricanes by weakening the warm sea surface temperatures that fuel these storms. However, despite this potential mitigation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) still predicts an extremely active 2024 hurricane season, largely due to the near record-breaking warm sea temperatures in the North Atlantic and the impending La Nina in the Pacific.
Experts Annalisa Bracco and Zachary Handlos from the Georgia Institute of Technology underscore the significance of these rare simultaneous occurrences, noting the importance of understanding their implications for climate and weather patterns globally.