El Nino
1 of 1noun/ˌɛl ˈnɪnjoʊ/
1
a recurring climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean characterized by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern regions, caused by weakened easterly trade winds and leading to significant global weather, ecological, and economic impacts
- El Niño in 2015–16 caused record rainfall in Peru and droughts across Indonesia.
- Fishermen off Ecuador struggled when El Niño disrupted the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters.
- Crop insurers raised premiums after forecasts predicted a strong El Niño season.
- California's winter storms intensified as El Niño shifted the jet stream southward.
- Scientists track sea surface temperatures to detect the onset of El Niño.