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What happens when El Nino meets climate change?

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Anne-Sophie Brändlin
September 23, 2026

An extremely strong El Nino is developing in the Pacific and could push global temperatures even higher. What happens when the most powerful natural climate phenomenon meets a planet already warmed by climate change?

El Nino, a natural climate phenomenon, can trigger droughts, floods, marine heatwaves and coral bleaching around the world.

But what happens when El Nino adds its warming effect to a planet already heated by greenhouse gas emissions?

DW explores the science behind El Nino, its global impacts, and what researchers know, and still don't know, about its relationship with climate change.

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