El Nino 2023

El Nino 2023

• An unusual phenomenon is developing along the equatorial Pacific region, indicating the emergence of El Nino conditions in 2023. Experts warn that this simultaneous warming of the eastern and western regions of the equatorial Pacific, a trend last observed in 2009.

El-Nino

• The eastern Pacific is getting warmer, which should make the west cooler.
• However, due to global warming, there is basin scale warming across the tropical Pacific.
• Two things could have triggered this phenomenon:
• Global warming in the Pacific and other modes of natural variability
• The transition from La Nina winter into an El Nino summer which is part of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.

Consequences

• Global Warming:
  • This may temporarily push global warming beyond 1.5°C.
• Geophysical Effect:
  • The phenomenon will affect cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons, with Typhoon Mawar in the western Pacific already being one of the strongest.
  • loss for marine biodiversity.
• Coral Bleaching:
  • A warming of 1.5°C threatens to destroy 70 to 90 per cent of coral reefs, and a 2°C increase means a nearly 100 per cent loss – a point of no return

Impact on India:

• Weak Monsoon for India
• Hot Temperatures: It may also cause heatwaves and droughts in India and other regions around the world such as South Africa, Australia, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands.

Practice Questions for Prelims

El Nino is a temperature anomaly in ____ Ocean
a) Indian
b) Pacific
c) Southern
d) Atlantic

Ans. b)

Mains Practice Question

What are the causes and effects of El Nino? Discuss.

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