El Nino and La Nina

El Niño and La Niña are parts of an oscillation in the ocean-atmosphere system (called the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO cycle) that can impact weather and climate conditions across the globe. El Niño features warmer-than-average temperatures in the waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while La Niña features colder-than-average waters. Read our stories below on the latest ENSO conditions and research into how the cycle affects global weather patterns.

Related Topics: Weather, Natural Disasters, Hurricanes, Ocean

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Hearts Ripped from 140 Children and 200 Llamas in Largest Child Sacrifice in Ancient World

March 06, 2019 | Article

The largest child sacrifice on record took place after a torrential rainfall, when about 140 children and 200 young llamas likely had their hearts ripped out by the ancient Chimú culture in A.D. 1450, in what is now Peru.
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Evidence Mounts Against So-Called Climate Change Hiatus

November 22, 2017 | Article

Evidence is mounting against the so-called climate change hiatus — a period lasting from 1998 to 2012 — when global temperatures allegedly stopped rising as sharply as they had before.
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El Nino's Absence May Fuel a Stormy Hurricane Season

August 09, 2017 | Article

This year's hurricane season is likely to be more active than usual, thanks to an absent El Niño and warmer tropical Atlantic Ocean waters.
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Human-Caused Climate Change Made 2016 Way Too Hot

March 23, 2017 | Article

The year 2016 was one for the record books, at least when it comes to the weather. Last year had the highest global temperature in modern history and extremely high levels of carbon dioxide and sea level rise.
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Twin Hurricanes Matthew and Nicole Could Herald More Storms to Come

October 14, 2016 | Article

Back-to-back hurricanes Matthew and Nicole may signal worse weather to come if La Niña climate conditions take hold across the globe, according to weather scientists.
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Great Barrier Reef Coral Bleaching is 'Worst in its History'

April 01, 2016 | Article

Australia's Great Barrier Reef corals are in trouble, with the northern part of the reef experiencing "the worst mass bleaching event in its history."
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How a Monster El Niño Transforms the World's Weather

March 17, 2016 | Article

From crippling drought in southern Africa to a record number of February tornadoes in the U.S. Southeast, an exceptionally strong El Niño has been making headlines around the globe as it tampers with the world’s weather.
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Massive Bird Die-Off Puzzles Alaskan Scientists

February 01, 2016 | Article

Thousands of dead seabirds have washed up on Alaskan shores over the past nine months. And while a dead bird washing ashore is a fairly common occurrence, these large numbers are leaving scientists concerned and confused.
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DIY Halloween Costumes: 7 Geeky Getups for Any Party

October 27, 2015 | Article

There's still time to assemble an appropriately geeky getup in time for this weekend's festivities.
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Snakebites in Costa Rica Rise Along with El Niño Cycles

September 11, 2015 | Article

Snakebites in Costa Rica spike during El Niño and La Niña as venomous snakes respond to changes in the weather and climate.
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