El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that influences global weather patterns. It has three phases: El Niño, where warm ocean waters affect weather, leading to wetter or drier conditions in various regions; La Niña, which involves cooler waters often bringing opposite effects; and a neutral phase. ENSO can cause extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, droughts, and shifts in temperature, impacting agriculture, ecosystems, and economies worldwide. Scientists monitor ENSO because of its significant effects on climate and weather around the globe.