On 2/6, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a United Nations agency, reported that warm ocean currents are fueling the development of the El Nino phenomenon, forecasting above-average temperatures in most regions during the June-August period.
Many meteorological organizations warn this El Nino event could reach "extreme" intensity, often dubbed a "super El Nino" by media. The WMO is more cautious, predicting the phenomenon will be moderate or strong. However, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo warned countries to prepare. She stated that a strong El Nino could lead to severe rainfall, droughts, and an increased risk of heatwaves on land and in oceans.
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A girl covers her head amidst intense heat in Jammu, India on 25/5. *AP* |
El Nino is a climate phenomenon linked to the unusual warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean or tropical marine areas. This phenomenon alters global weather patterns and typically occurs every two to seven years.
According to the WMO, this phenomenon can cause regional climate disruptions, leading to hotter global temperatures, while increasing rainfall in the southern United States, parts of South America, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia.
Conversely, it can cause droughts in Australia, Central America, Indonesia, and parts of South Asia, and foster the formation of cyclones in the central and eastern Pacific.
Saulo noted that the most recent strong El Nino occurred in 2023-2024, contributing to 2024 becoming the hottest year on record.
Alongside extreme heat, disease risks also rise, while food and water supplies diminish. "Vulnerable communities will be pushed to even greater limits", the WMO Secretary-General said. Meanwhile, this phenomenon could increase food prices, which have already escalated due to the Middle East conflict.
Despite cautious forecasting, the WMO reported observations of unusually warm subsurface water temperatures across the tropical Pacific, exceeding the average by 6 degrees Celsius, creating a heat buildup that fuels surface warming.
Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, stated that this is a reminder of the need to transition away from fossil fuels. "The world must view this as an urgent climate warning. El Nino will 'add fuel to the fire' of global warming", he said.
Bao Bao (according to Reuters)
