Fl Nino-nsense
The Hottest Phenomenon Of The Season Takes The Podium
Prisha Malik, XI D and Saanvi Pruthi, XII I, AIS Noida
Journalist #1:
Please introduce yourself.
El Niño:
Sure, I am the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural ocean-atmosphere cycle in the tropical Pacific. I made my first public appearance in the 1600s when Ecuadorian and Peruvian fishermen noticed unusually warm currents along the coast around the time of Christmas. My name, hence, means ‘the Christ child’ or ‘little boy’ in Spanish.
Journalist #2:
What’s your process? How do you go about the job behind the seas?
El Niño:
Normally, trade winds blow from east to west across the tropical Pacific pushing warm water to Indonesia and Australia while cooler, nutrient-rich water rises near the South American coast. This process, known as upwelling, brings nutrients to the surface and supports productive marine food chains. However, whenever I’m working, I flip the script and reverse the trade winds. Warm water then shifts eastwards towards South America, affecting global rainfall patterns drastically.
Journalist #3:
Your current activities have broken modern records, with sea surface temperatures surging to 3.05°C to 3.11°C above average. Could you enlighten us on the effects the world will suffer?
El Niño:
One can soon expect droughts in Australia and Southeast Asia, while the Southern US, Peru, and several regions of Africa will experience heavy rainfall and floods. There will also be variations in cyclone frequency across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and spikes in global average surface temperatures. Let me also share the World Meteorological Organisation’s October 8, 2026 update. Due to my effect, the sea-surface temperature anomaly is forecast to reach about 3.7°C above average during October-December 2026, potentially exceeding my previous record of 2.6°C during November 2015-January 2016.
Journalist #4:
Aren’t you aware of your ecological consequences? The heat you have produced is likely to push corals beyond their thermal stress thresholds.
El Niño:
Thank you very much, but I am aware. I am very much aware that when corals experience prolonged heat stress, they expel the algae that provide much of their food and colour, leading to bleaching and, in severe cases, death. I’m responsible for the collapse of upwelling off the South American coast which deprived the marine ecosystem of nutrient-rich water. I know that warmer waters and reduced nutrient supply can lower anchovy abundance, disrupt food chains, and threaten the livelihoods of fishing communities. The chances of wildfires in dried-out rainforests like the Amazon and in Indonesia have also increased, with over 896,000 hectares of land being burnt. But I’m transparent about it, you know? Got to appreciate an honest man, come on.
Journalist #5:
In which crook of the ocean did you abandon your ethics while you wreaked havoc on society and economy?
El Niño:
You assume that I don’t monitor my performances at all. I know about the crop failure and rise in global commodity prices for crops like coffee, sugar, rice, and more. I’m no stranger to the surge in vector-borne diseases like malaria due to flooding and water scarcity issues. A lot of infrastructural damage has also been caused. I recognise that I’ve affected economies too, especially by putting immense strain on developing ones. I do read the magazine, ‘Nature Communications’, you know. In 2023, it estimated that I was associated with 2.1 trillion USD in cumulative global economic losses in 1997-98, and in the 2015-16 event, with 3.9 trillion USD!
Journalist #6:
Aren’t you scared that scientists are now stalking your every move?
El Niño:
Scientists use satellites, ocean buoys, sea-surface temperature data, computer models, and what not to track me. Governments use these tools to warn farmers, fishermen, and communities beforehand. Seems like no one wants to see me reach the pinnacle of my career!
Journalist #7:
The pinnacle of your career is life threatening for us. If you want fame, why must you create such devastation?
El Niño:
Don’t shift the blame on me alone. Human-made phenomenon ‘Climate Change’ has only amplified my effects! Global warming raises the baseline temperature; I only intensify heat in particular years. Atmospheric CO2 reached a record 426.8 parts per million in 2025, about 53% above pre-industrial levels. Meanwhile, global fossil-fuel and CO₂ emissions reached an estimated 38.1 billion tonnes in the same year. The data speaks for itself.
Journalist #8:
Last question of the day: what message do you have for the viewers?
El Niño:
While the world may argue about who the worst Weatherstar is, I hope humans take climate change into account. I’ve always been a natural climate phenomenon, but it is human activity that is rapidly warming the planet. So ask yourselves, is it fair to shift the complete blame on me?
We are here today for a highly anticipated press conference with El Niño - a name increasingly associated with devastation and despair. This natural climate phenomenon, marked by the periodic warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, typically occurs every 3-8 years, creating scorching heatwaves, devastating floods, prolonged droughts, crop failures, and ecological destruction. With this year’s event threatening to reach unprecedented intensity, El Niño finds himself at the eye of the storm.
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