A ‘Healthy’ Pacific El Niño: Impacts, Research, and Forecasts for 2026
El Niño and La Niña are opposing phases of the Southern Oscillation (ENSO), one of the most powerful drivers of interannual climate variability. These are naturally occurring climate phenomena characterized by increased sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño events typically occur every 2 to 7 years and last for 9 to 12 months. They often begin to form between March and June, reach their peak intensity between November and February, and have the strongest impact on global temperatures for the year following their onset.
NASA and ESA are preparing a “digital twin” of Earth
As extreme weather events become more frequent around the world due to climate change, the need for further research into our increasingly warm planet grows. Climate research involves not only studying these events but also enabling external researchers to do the same. Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) represent a powerful tool for achieving these goals.