Question

“Typically, La Niña brings climate impacts that are the opposite of El Niño, especially in tropical regions. However, naturally occurring climate events such as La Niña and El Niño are taking place in the broader context of human-induced climate change, which is increasing global temperatures, exacerbating extreme weather, and impacting seasonal rainfall and temperature patterns.”, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

What is El Niño and how does it influence the Indian Monsoon?

Answer 1

El Niño is an abnormal warming of the surface waters in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is a phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) that alters the global atmospheric circulation. In India, El Niño weakens the South-West Monsoon, often delaying its onset and reducing rainfall over much of the country. As a result, temperatures rise, and the risk of drought and poor crop yields increases.