It is expected that many people on the planet will hear the word "El Niño", which the United Nations has warned that it is likely to jump the Earth's temperature to record rates by September, as another manifestation of climate change.
A few days ago, the head of the World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas, came out with a statement, saying that the formation of the "El Niño" phenomenon would cause a "new peak in climate warming" and record temperatures by September, with a probability of 80 percent. So what is this "El Niño"? And what is the relationship of human activity to its formation? Is it limited to a specific country or does it include the entire planet?
complex phenomenon
The "El Niño" phenomenon has been known since the 17th century after it was discovered by fishermen in the oceans when they noticed the rapid change in temperatures in the waters of the Pacific Ocean in particular, as explained by environmental expert Domit Kamel, head of the World Environment Party (an association for environmental awareness based in Beirut).
Kamel presents the "Sky News Arabia" website the effects of this phenomenon on the planet, and the climatic phenomena that branch out from it:
- The "El Nino" phenomenon is a climatic cycle in the Pacific Ocean that has major effects on weather conditions all over the world. It usually begins when warm waters in the Pacific Ocean move from the western side to the eastern tropical part, especially towards the coasts of South America along the equator.
- The phenomenon occurs due to a change in air pressure, and coastal waters become warmer in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which leads to a decrease in atmospheric pressure over the ocean, and strong winds rush west across the tropical Pacific Ocean.
- Winds push warm surface water towards the western Pacific Ocean between Asia and Australia; The sea level rises by about 80 centimeters, warm water moves, and cold water rises towards the surface, and the process of rising water affects the global climate in all parts of the planet, causing heavy rainfall or exposure to drought.
- The period of 2015 and 2016 was called "The Great El Niño" because its impact increased and extended to many regions of the world, after a sharp rise in ocean temperature.
Double effect
The World Meteorological Organization says the phenomenon is linked to warm, dry conditions in the southern and eastern interior of Australia, as well as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and central Pacific islands such as Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
It adds that 2016 was "the hottest year on record due to the 'double effect' of a strong El Niño and warming from human-caused greenhouse gases." As for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations "FAO", it points out that, in addition to what El Niño causes in terms of floods, extreme heat or extreme cold, it causes outbreaks of animal diseases, plant pests and forest fires.
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