NASA publishes new images of «Super El Niño» –Frightening the consequences it brings

Snapshot

Scientists are concerned about the possible appearance of a powerful «Super El Niño» which can make 2026 the hottest year recorded.
NASA monitors the phenomenon via satellites, with Sentinel
6 Michael Freilich accurately counting sea level rise and ocean temperature.
The warm waves Kelvin and the change of winds in the Pacific contribute to the development and reinforcement of El Niño.
Strong El Niño episodes are related to extreme weather phenomena, such as floods, droughts and forest fires, causing serious social and economic consequences.
The next few months will be crucial for assessing the intensity and impact of the phenomenon.

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Scientists' assessments of the possible emergence of a powerful «Super El Niño», which could make the following year the hottest ever recorded, affecting weather conditions and the global economy.

El Niño is a natural climatic phenomenon that occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean remain higher than normal levels for a long time. Experts warn that a particularly powerful episode could cause extreme weather phenomena, food shortages and serious humanitarian crises in various regions of the planet.

Her satellites NASA monitoring evolution

NASA has already recorded through satellite observations the first signs of the evolution of the phenomenon. Data from 2026 indicate that vast masses of warmer water, with an area of hundreds of kilometers, have appeared in the Pacific Ocean near the South American coast.

According to space service, rising sea level in certain areas is a sign of rising water temperature, as water expands when heated.

A defining role in the measurements is played by the Sentinel-6 satellite Michael Freilich, which was launched in 2020 and charts the ocean surface height every ten days with extremely high accuracy.

The hot waves Kelvin and strengthening the phenomenon

Scientists particularly monitor the so-called hot waves Kelvin, which are a key indicator for the development of El Niño. These waves form when the usual eastern winds in the equator Pacific are weakened or temporarily replaced by western winds.

This change allows for the accumulation of warmer water in the western Pacific and their promotion to the east, contributing to the further heating of the ocean.

Scientific director of the Sentinel-6 program, Josh Willis, said this year's phenomenon was later launched in relation to the powerful El Niño of 1997 and 2015, however, it shows trends in aid closely monitored by experts.

The consequences it can cause

The strong El Niño episodes have historically been associated with devastating floods, cyclones, prolonged droughts and major forest fires. The 1997 phenomenon is considered the strongest recorded, with about 23,000 deaths worldwide and financial damage estimated at tens of billions of dollars.

At the same time, the heavy flooding that hit the United Kingdom in December 2015 had also been linked to El Niño's impact.

How El Niño is created

The occurrence of the phenomenon is associated with the behavior of so-called commercial winds, which usually breathe from east to west along the equator. These winds carry the warmest surface waters to the western Pacific, while colder waters than the deepest layers of the ocean rise to the surface to the east.

But when winds weaken or change direction, this balance is disrupted. Waters in the eastern Pacific regions are heated more than usual and rain patterns and winds are changing across the planet.

Οι επιστήμονες εκτιμούν ότι οι επόμενοι μήνες θα είναι κρίσιμοι για να διαπιστωθεί η πραγματική ένταση του φαινομένου και το κατά πόσο θα εξελιχθεί σε ένα από τα ισχυρότερα El Niño των τελευταίων δεκαετιών.