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El Niño intensity has increased by 40% in the last 40 years
A study led by the University of Michigan and published in the journal Science reveals that El Niño events have intensified significantly over the last 40 years. Researchers found that the intensity of these phenomena has increased by approximately 36% to 40% compared to the pre-industrial era, marking the strongest levels recorded in the last 1,000 years.
To reach these conclusions, scientists analyzed the chemical composition of 13 modern and ancient coral samples from the Galapagos Islands. These coral cores served as a natural archive, allowing researchers to reconstruct ocean temperatures and salinity levels with high resolution over a millennium. The data were combined with 12 advanced climate models to simulate conditions from the past 1,000 years.
The findings indicate that the recent intensification cannot be explained by natural factors such as volcanic eruptions or solar activity. Instead, the study suggests that the strengthening of El Niño is occurring in parallel with rising global temperatures caused by human-induced climate change. This shift in the climate system may lead to more frequent and destructive weather patterns, including droughts, floods, and wildfires.
Entities
Galápagos Islands · Jonathan Overpeck · Julia Cole · Julia Coul · Pacific Ocean · Science · University of Michigan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Climate models simulating the last 1,000 years did not identify natural factors, such as volcanic eruptions or solar activity, that could explain the recent intensification. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Researchers analyzed chemical compositions from 13 modern and ancient coral samples from the Galapagos Islands. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The intensity of El Niño events is changing in parallel with the rise in global temperatures. www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr · epirusonline.gr
- [● 4 SOURCES] El Niño phenomena have intensified by nearly 40% over the last 40 years compared to the pre-industrial era. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.ithome.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The study was published in the journal Science. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.ithome.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] A study led by the University of Michigan indicates El Niño intensity has increased significantly. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.ithome.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] El Niño events in the last 40 to 50 years were stronger than any recorded in the previous millennium. epirusonline.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.ithome.com