In the last couple of years, climatologists and scientists found a unique scapegoat: the El Nio. Whatever happened, be it crop losses or hurricanes, they blamed El Nio. It has taken a lot of flack lately and some of it due to no fault of its own, says a US researcher. The El Nio of 1997-1998 was widely accused for extreme weather. But a statistical analysis by Ed Harrison from the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle shows much of the 'wild' weather had causes other than every meteorologist's bette noir , the El Nio. Heavy winter rains in California, for instance, were blamed on El Nio, but Harrison discovered that previous El Nios often made California unusually dry. "There seems to be more to the question of what gives us weather anomalies in the US than just El Nio," he says ( Geophysical Research Letters , Vol 25, p 3959).
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.