Scientists Warn a Potential Super El Niño Could Contribute to 450,000 Deaths
Researchers say Global South countries would be hit hardest by the weather phenomenon expected to affect the planet from June through February.
Scientists have warned that a potential super El Niño event could be linked to as many as 450,000 deaths globally, with countries in the Global South expected to bear the brunt of its impact, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern characterised by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, which can trigger significant shifts in weather patterns across the globe, including altered rainfall, drought conditions and more intense storms in different regions. A super El Niño refers to an unusually strong occurrence of the phenomenon, associated with more severe and widespread disruptions than typical events.
According to the report, the current event is expected to affect the planet across a period stretching from June through February, with researchers citing concerns about its cumulative toll on public health, agriculture and economic stability, particularly in lower-income countries with fewer resources to adapt to extreme weather disruptions.
Countries in the Global South, many of which are more directly dependent on rain-fed agriculture and have less developed infrastructure for managing floods, droughts and disease outbreaks linked to climate extremes, are expected to be disproportionately affected, according to the scientists cited in the report.
Previous strong El Niño events have historically been associated with increased rates of infectious disease transmission, crop failures and heat-related mortality in vulnerable regions, patterns researchers say could recur or intensify under a stronger event.
The report did not specify the methodology behind the 450,000 death estimate or identify the specific research body responsible for the projection.
Sources
- Scientists warn super El Nino could cause 450,000 deaths: Should we worry? — Al Jazeera — All
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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