A ‘super El Niño?’: Inside the weather phenomenon that could send temperatures soaring

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists are debating whether a “super El Niño” could develop in the Pacific, though the term itself is informal and not officially used by meteorological agencies

🔭 The context: El Niño events are measured using the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), which tracks sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical Pacific
• An El Niño begins when temperatures rise at least 0.5°C above normal for several months, with stronger events occurring as temperatures rise further above that threshold

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: El Niño strongly influences global weather patterns, affecting droughts, floods, hurricanes, and agricultural productivity worldwide
• Scientists are increasingly examining whether climate change is altering the strength or frequency of these events

⏭️ What’s next: Researchers are monitoring Pacific Ocean temperatures to see whether enough heat has accumulated since the 2023–2024 El Niño to trigger another strong event
• Some scientists remain skeptical, noting that the ocean typically needs more time to “recharge” between major events

💬 One quote: “It takes time to recharge the ‘battery’ of heat in the East Pacific, but perhaps human-made warming is decreasing the time needed,” researchers said

📈 One stat: A strong El Niño occurs when the Oceanic Niño Index reaches 1.5°C or higher above average

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