What is a Super El Niño?

El Niño is a climate pattern that impacts global weather. It influences rainfall patterns and ocean temperatures. A Super El Niño, sometimes referred to as a Godzilla El Niño, indicates an unusually intense episode.

Global Effects

A Super El Niño affects weather around the world. In the United States, it may lead to increased flooding. Australia and Indonesia could experience droughts and wildfires. It disrupts fisheries across the Pacific.

Human Influence on El Niño

Scientists have debated whether human activities influence the strength of El Niños. A team of researchers now suggests that such activities, especially fossil fuel combustion, might be making El Niños stronger.

Further Information

For those interested in the science behind these weather patterns, NPR invites questions at [email protected]. Supporting public media through NPR+ offers benefits like sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Short Wave is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Produced by Arundathi Nair. Edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Audio engineering by Jimmy Keeley.