El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
ENSO is a recurring climate pattern involving fluctuations in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, coupled with changes in atmospheric pressure (the Southern Oscillation). It cycles between three phases: El Niño (warm), La Niña (cool), and neutral. Each phase typically lasts 9–12 months but can persist for up to 2 years. ENSO is the dominant driver of interannual climate variability on Earth, influencing weather patterns across Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia.
- El Niño: warming of central/eastern Pacific SSTs by ≥0.5°C relative to average; associated with suppressed monsoon in India.
- La Niña: cooling of central/eastern Pacific SSTs; generally associated with above-normal monsoon rainfall in India.
- The Niño3.4 index (SSTs averaged over 5°N–5°S, 120°W–170°W) is the primary monitoring variable.
- Monitoring agencies: BOM (Australia), NOAA's Climate Prediction Center (USA), IMD (India).
● Tracked since March 03, 2026 · last seen July 06, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
06 Jul '26
El Nino's heat test: India may face world's biggest energy system impact
Environment & Ecology
01 Jul '26
A severe El Niño could threaten something essential to half of humanity — rice
Environment & Ecology
13 Jun '26
El Niño emerges in Pacific Ocean, to intensify during SW monsoon season: IMD
Environment & Ecology
11 Jun '26
El Nino has set in, Positive IOD likely by July, says Japanese weather body
Environment & Ecology
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