El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a naturally recurring climate pattern driven by changes in ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation across the tropical Pacific. Occurring every few years, El Niño can alter weather around the world, influencing droughts, floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and ecosystems from the Americas to Africa and Asia. While ENSO is a natural part of Earth’s climate system, its effects now unfold against a backdrop of human-caused climate change, which can amplify many of its impacts, including extreme heat and heavy rainfall. Explore Columbia Climate School’s latest news, research, and expert insights on the science behind El Niño, its global consequences, and what it reveals about our changing climate.
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