Climate change affects the frequency and intensity of el niño.El Niño is the warm phase of a naturally occurring climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It is characterized by an irregular warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean's surface, which disrupts normal weather patterns worldwide and can last from nine months to over a year. El Niño influences global temperatures and rainfall, often leading to conditions like increased flooding in the southern U.S. and droughts in Southeast Asia and Australia
La Niña typically brings drier and warmer conditions to Southern California and the broader southern U.S., while leading to wetter and cooler weather in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. This pattern contributes to drought and increased wildfire risks in the south but can increase precipitation in the north.
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