“Satellite Data Shows 2023-24 El Niño Rivals 1997 and 2015 Events” — what this page in the network covers. A 35-year record of satellite altimetry is giving scientists an unprecedented view of how the current El Niño stacks up against the strongest events of the past. By comparing sea surface heights from 2023-24 with those from the 1997-98 and 2015-16 El Niños, researchers can track the evolution of warm water across the Pacific in near real time. The data show this year's event has reached comparable intensity, though its timing and regional impacts differ.
Understanding these differences matters for forecasting droughts, floods, and storm patterns worldwide. As the climate warms, such long-term satellite records become essential for separating natural variability from long-term trends. The current El Niño is expected to fade by mid-2024, but its effects on global weather may persist for months. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.