El Niño Archives - Disasters News

Dec162024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Amazon Fires Intensify as Groundwater Depletion El Niño Fuel Catastrophic Events

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A groundbreaking study has demonstrated a clear link between climatic phenomena and the rising propensity for fires in the Amazon rainforest. Researchers have identified compromised groundwater storage, exacerbated by El Niño-driven droughts, as a critical factor in escalating fire risks. The findings, backed by satellite data and fire reports, could pave the way for more effective prevention strategies. Role of Groundwater and El Niño in Amazon Fires The study highlights that regions with depleted groundwater storage are at greater risk of fires during extreme droughts. Researchers observed that during El Niño events, prolonged dry conditions impact three key water reservoirs: topsoil, the tree root zone, and groundwater, with groundwater being the slowest to recover. El Niño, chara...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

La Niña Fails to Arrive Weather Models Miss the Mark

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

BENGALURU: As 2024 edges closer to its end it is on track to become the warmest year ever recorded, surpassing 2016. Among the key factors driving this record-breaking warmth is the unexpected absence of La Niña, a climatic phenomenon that global weather models had predicted to emerge earlier this year. Despite repeated forecasts, La Niña has failed to materialize, leaving experts scrambling to understand what went wrong. La Niña, a cooling phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), typically brings colder sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, stronger trade winds, and increased rainfall in regions like India. This phase is part of a larger cycle that includes El Niño, a warming phase, and the neutral phase, characterized by average sea surface temper...

Sep52024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

New Study Reveals El Niño-Southern Oscillation Linked to Increasing Heat Waves in Southwest India

Breaking News, Climate Actions

A recent study has identified the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as a significant contributor to the rising frequency and intensity of heat waves in southwest India. ENSO, characterized by periodic warming and cooling of sea surface temperatures and atmospheric pressure shifts in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, is now recognized as a major player in exacerbating heat conditions in the region. The research highlights that while ENSO is a key factor, other major climatic patterns also play roles in influencing the heat waves affecting southwest India. This finding comes amid a troubling trend of increasingly severe heat waves not only in South Asia but globally. Historical Context and Recent Trends The study is set against a backdrop of heightened concern over climate chang...

Jun42024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Return of La Niña Expected to Ease Global Heat, UN Weather Agency Reports

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced on Monday that the return of the La Niña weather phenomenon should help to reduce global temperatures after several months of record-breaking heat. This cooling phase comes as the El Niño pattern, which has been contributing to extreme global temperatures since mid-2023, is showing signs of ending. According to the WMO's latest update, the impacts of La Niña will likely be felt in the coming months. However, the organization warns that despite the cooling trend, long-term global temperatures will continue to rise due to human-induced climate change, which exacerbates extreme weather and disrupts seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns. La Niña is characterized by the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the ...

Apr282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

El Niño Fades, ENSO-Neutral Conditions Expected in May

Breaking News, Climate Actions

The recent observations from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and the Climate Prediction Center (CPC-NOAA) suggest a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific. Despite indications of El Niño persisting, the intensity has notably diminished since its peak in March 2024. Ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have shown a gradual cooling trend, with negative sub-surface anomalies extending westward. Key indicators like the Nino 3.4 index, which reflects sea surface temperature anomalies, are steadily declining and are projected to reach the threshold for ENSO-neutral conditions within the next few weeks. Additionally, the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) remains within the ENSO-neutral range, indicating a shift towards neutral co...