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By Newzyy Staff — 1h ago
A new study published in *Science* has found that human-caused global heating is intensifying naturally occurring El Niño climate patterns, creating a dangerous feedback loop. Researchers led by Julia Cole of the University of Michigan analyzed coral fossils from the Galápagos Islands to reconstruct sea surface temperatures over the past 1,000 years, revealing a clear shift in El Niño behavior coinciding with industrialization.
The study highlights that El Niño events, which occur every two to seven years when waters in the eastern tropical Pacific warm, have become significantly stronger in recent decades. The current "Godzilla" El Niño, expected to peak later this year, is projected to be the most intense in living memory, with scientists warning it will further accelerate global warming. The phenomenon typically releases stored ocean heat into the atmosphere, pushing global temperatures higher and making the following year—likely 2025—the hottest on record.
Cole noted that the research demonstrates a two-way relationship: while El Niño amplifies climate change, climate change is also supercharging El Niño. The study found that El Niño variability has increased by about 37% since the late 19th century, with extreme events becoming far more frequent. The coral records show that prior to industrialization, El Niño patterns remained relatively stable for centuries, but changes became pronounced around the time of mass fossil fuel burning.
These findings underscore the growing risks posed by stronger El Niño events, which exacerbate climate hazards such as flooding, droughts, and extreme weather. Vulnerable communities, often least responsible for climate change, face the greatest impacts from these intensified patterns. The study warns that the trend is unlikely to reverse without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.