El Niño has arrived in the Pacific Ocean, bringing warmer surface temperatures to the world's largest body of water.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials predict the long-awaited occurrence will be mild this year, having little effect on weather patterns. However, the event, although mild, could bring wetter than normal conditions to the Gulf Coast of the United States during springtime, meteorologists predict.
"Based on the persistent observations of above-average sea surface temperatures across the western and central equatorial Pacific Ocean and consistent pattern of sea level pressure, we can now say that El Niño is here. Many climate prediction models show this weak El Niño continuing into summer," Mike Halpert, deputy director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, said.
The phenomenon is caused by interactions between water and the air, forming in equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean. Currently, NOAA officials are predicting between a 50 and 60 percent chance that El Niño conditions will continue into summer months.
"During February 2015, El Niño conditions were observed as the above-average sea surface temperatures (SST) across the western and central equatorial Pacific became weakly coupled to the tropical atmosphere," NOAA researchers reported.
El Niño is marked by unusually warm surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean, while its counterpart, El Niña, is distinguished by unusually cold temperatures in the region. Both of these events are part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, a cyclic fluctuation of temperatures between the ocean and atmosphere. Each of these events typically last between nine and 12 months before average temperatures in the Pacific resume.
During years when El Niño is particularly strong, the phenomenon can result in powerful rain storms that can damage crops and property, as well as take the lives of people caught in the maelstrom.
The last El Niño event, which took place between 2009 and 2010, was much stronger than is expected during the current pattern. A particularly powerful El Niño took place in 1997 to 1998, bringing vast amounts of precipitation to California and other western states. However, this year's El Niño will likely remain too weak to bring any relief to the Golden State, still experiencing a severe drought that has ruined large fields of crops.
Warmer waters in the Pacific were first noticed by crews about sailing ships in the 17 Century. The name El Niño means "little boy" or "Christ Child" in Spanish. The title comes from the fact that El Niño is usually observed near Christmas.
As El Niño continues to develop, NOAA researchers will monitor the event, issuing updates. The next report on the event will come out on April 9.
Photo: Neil Kremer | Flickr
