From drought to deluge: ‘Super’ El Niño’s expanding reach
Reported by UN News, not nibnow. We are not the publisher of this story, only the source is.
In Papua New Guinea, drying water sources, failing crops and rising food prices are already affecting livelihoods, and the situation could worsen as the ‘Super’ El Niño intensifies.
Across Papua New Guinea, severe drought conditions are causing water sources to dry up, crops to fail, and food prices to rise well before the worst agricultural impacts are anticipated. These issues are linked to a powerful El Niño weather pattern, with Pacific Ocean temperatures already exceeding those recorded during the historic events of 1997 and 2015. Some experts are referring to this phenomenon as a Super El Niño. The expanding reach of this climate pattern is posing significant challenges to food security and livelihoods in the region, prompting urgent calls for preparedness and response measures.
El Niño is a recurring climate phenomenon that warms Pacific Ocean waters and can trigger severe droughts or floods worldwide; the 1997 and 2015 events were among the strongest on record and caused major agricultural disruptions.
- •Reports on the timing and severity of the expected agricultural impacts in Papua New Guinea
- •Updates from UN or local agencies on food aid or emergency measures
- •Monitoring of Pacific Ocean temperature trends to gauge the El Niño’s strength