Scientists have issued a warning that the El Niño phenomenon, a weather pattern
characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean,
will make a return in 2023.
This event is expected to bring about a rise in global temperatures and result in
unprecedented heat waves. According to the Guardian, early forecasts suggest that the
El Niño climate event will make the world likely to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of
warming.
It is worth noting that 2023 is expected to be hotter than 2022, with some experts
predicting that it could be ranked as the fifth or sixth hottest year on record.
The El Niño event typically occurs during the northern hemisphere winter and its
heating effect takes several months to be felt.
Therefore, it is much more likely that the year 2024 will set a new global temperature
record.
The head of the long-range prediction at the UK Met Office, Adam Scaife, has stated that
it is likely that the next big El Niño event could take the world over 1.5 degrees Celsius.
He also highlighted that under climate change, the impacts of El Niño events are going
to get stronger.
He further added that “you put those two things together, and we are likely to see
unprecedented heatwaves during the next El Niño.”
Scaife also emphasized that science can now predict these events months ahead, which
means we must be more prepared and ready to take action.
From emergency services to crop planning, it is important that we use this knowledge to
prepare for the potential impacts of the El Niño event.
Brace yourselves: El Niño is back – scientists
