This summer was unbearably hot, but British researchers believe next year could be even hotter. Not surprisingly, global warming has a lot to do with it, but El Niño also plays a big role.
What is El Niño anyway?
El Niño is a sporadically occurring phase of warmth that creates higher overall temperatures, increases the level of precipitation in the Pacific region and increases the temperature of the Pacific sea surface. According to scientists, the phenomenon is currently taking place and will exist throughout next year; in fact, it is the strongest El Niño that has ever been recorded, giving rise to the nickname “Godzilla El Niño.”
Scientists attribute the event to the end of the slowdown of rising temperature that occurred in the first decade of the 21st century, suggested by many to be a pause in global warming. The last time El Niño occurred was in 1997-1998, and those years were considered to some of the warmest on record.
Relief for California?
California has been facing terrible drought conditions for a while now, and while El Niño could bring precipitation to the Pacific area, this is not a guarantee. Even if maximum rainfall does occur, it would not be enough to replenish the amount of water that California needs in order to overcome the drought. Furthermore, the rainfall would most likely occur in the bottom half of the state, leaving the top half, which supplies most of California’s water, dry.
El Niño plus global warming equals…
Reports from the British Met office state that El Niño may kick off global warming and the gradual change of the climate once again. Major repercussions, such as droughts, rising oceans, storms and floods, are believed to occur if temperatures continue to increase. The news comes right before a United Nations conference to be held in November, which will discuss climate change and effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
