California\u2019s coastal waters could be heading toward a major disruption as scientists closely monitor warming conditions in the Pacific Ocean ahead of a powerful El Ni\u00f1o event.<\/p>\n
In its latest El Ni\u00f1o\/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) advisory, the National Weather Service\u2019s Climate Prediction Center mentioned that above-average sea surface temperatures continue across most of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n
Forecasters expect El Ni\u00f1o conditions to develop soon<\/a>, with an 82% possibility of the conditions emerging by July and continuing through winter. There is a nearly 96% chance of El Ni\u00f1o conditions lasting through December 2026 to February 2027, according to the weather service.<\/p>\n While it is too early to predict how powerful El Ni\u00f1o conditions will be this year, scientists are concerned about the impacts on California\u2019s marine life.<\/p>\n What is El Ni\u00f1o?<\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o is a natural phenomenon that is characterized by the warming of the ocean surface<\/a>, or above-average sea surface temperatures, in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.<\/p>\n Under normal, non-El Ni\u00f1o conditions, trade winds blow from east to west along the equator. During El Ni\u00f1o conditions, the low-level surface winds weaken, or in some instances, begin to blow from west to east.<\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o events can occur irregularly within intervals of two to seven years<\/a>, with strong events being less likely to occur, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica.<\/p>\n El Ni\u00f1o can have global impacts on weather, marine ecosystems, wildfires, and economies.<\/p>\n A strong El Ni\u00f1o event is usually associated with heavy rains and warm weather in Peru, drought in Indonesia, Africa, and Australia, torrential rain and mudslides in Southern California<\/a>, and fewer hurricanes in the southeast, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).<\/p>\n The most recent notable and intense El Ni\u00f1o events occurred in 1997-98 and in 2015-16.<\/p>\n How Does El Ni\u00f1o Affect Marine Life?<\/p>\n Under normal conditions, upwelling of deep, cold ocean water brings up nutrients that lie deep below, near the bottom. This is essential for ocean life along the California coast.<\/p>\n These nutrients feed plankton, fish populations, kelp forests, sea birds, and marine mammals.<\/p>\n Kelp forests thrive on cool, nutrient-dense water for their growth and survival.<\/p>\n During El Ni\u00f1o, the upwelling of cold water off the coast of the Americas is reduced, causing fish populations to either migrate to other areas or die. Kelp forests are often destroyed by ocean swells and storms, according to the CDFW.<\/p>\n As sea temperatures begin to rise off the California coast, it is already beginning to impact the ecosystem.<\/p>\n