El Nino intensity reaches 150-year high, warns Professor Özçelik

Professor Ceyhun Özçelik of Nişantaşı University has warned that the current El Nino cycle is the most intense recorded in the last 150 years. Based on data from the World Meteorological Organization and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the phenomenon involves an abnormal rise in sea surface temperatures around the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

This warming is expected to increase atmospheric temperatures, leading to a higher frequency of extreme meteorological and hydrological events. Potential consequences include floods, droughts, heatwaves, and forest fires. Özçelik noted that the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit established by the Paris Climate Agreement has likely already been exceeded based on three-year averages, and temperatures may rise significantly above this threshold within the next decade.

In Turkey, the impact may manifest differently depending on the region: coastal areas could face intense rainfall due to rising sea temperatures, while inland regions may experience severe drought.