 El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Coupled variability of the tropical Pacific ocean and terrestrial atmosphere, including the warm El Niño phase, the cold La Niña phase, and associated changes in surface pressure, trade winds and the thermocline.

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate pattern that describes the periodic fluctuations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO has three phases: 1. **El Niño**: This phase is characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. It tends to occur every 2 to 7 years and can last several months to a couple of years.