We live in days when so much information is available to us and even then we know so little about the total knowledge available. In July 2023 it was announced by the World Meteorological Organisation that El Niño was confirmed which is a weather pattern that has worldwide effects. Such an occurrence is not new and has been known for many generations. It was given its name in the 1600s when Peruvian fishermen noticed that the water was warmer around Christmas time and this affected the weather and reduced their catch of fish. They gave the phenomenon the name of ‘El Niño de Navidad’ which simply means ‘the Christmas Boy’.
An El Niño is usually announced when surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean near the equator increase by half a degree centigrade over a three month period. Such occurrences happen every two to seven years and can last from nine to twelve months. Usually in the Pacific the trade winds move from east to west and so move warm water towards Australia and S.E. Asia. The warm water is replaced by cold water from the depths of the ocean which is nutrient-rich and the process is known as ‘upwelling’. During an El Niño for reasons which are not fully known the process is reversed and great masses of warm water flow to the east and reach the Americas. The result is that normally dry areas of Peru, Chile, Mexico and as far north as SW USA are deluged with rain. This can produce landslides and leave many people homeless.
