Editor's choice: El Niño–Southern Oscillation

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is one of the most well-known and dominant interannual climatic patterns. ENSO has been naturally occurring for thousands of years, the oscillating cycles of three to seven years seeing surface waters of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean warm or cool by 1°C to 3°C. It fluctuates between three phases, the opposite extreme warming (El Niño) and cooling (El Niña), and a Neutral phase. These variations directly affect weather patterns well beyond the tropical Pacific regions, and can cause severe rainfalls or droughts across the globe.

This Collection gathers some of the latest research on the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, including the mechanisms behind the climatic cycles, historical records and forecasts, weather responses across the globe, and the implications the ENSO has for wildlife and human populations.