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natural phenomenon
Close ✕El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The largest year-to-year swing in the climate system, and the clearest case of ocean circulation and atmosphere driving each other.
0.0, -145.0 · approximate · recurrent, roughly every two to seven years; state as of the CPC discussion of 9 July 2026
Connections
- affects Peruvian Anchoveta (Engraulis ringens) — Strong El Niño events collapse the anchoveta stock within months by removing the nutrient supply beneath it.
- affects Coastal and Equatorial Upwelling — A deepened eastern Pacific thermocline during El Niño means the same wind pulls up warm, nutrient-poor water instead of cold, nutrient-rich water.
1145 objects · 280 located (1 withheld pending verification) · 865 unlocated · Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain) · marks drawn only from sourced coordinates