Exploring how the 2023 El Niño Evolved in Peru, Ecuador, the U.S. & Australia: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Justice.

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Stefanie Varghese, Ruth Hundie, Luis Vargas

Abstract or Description

Although the El Niño phenomenon, which is the warm phase of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is often defined by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Oceanic (NOAA) Niño Index (ONI), other quantitative definitions exist that may better suit regional and country needs for early warning systems and disaster risk reduction. The existence of multiple definitions and the interpretation of how ENSO events evolve may confuse and hinder responses, as may have occurred in 2017. For example, there were conflicting climate information during that time. While the NOAA forecast projected neutral conditions in early 2017 (meaning no El Niño was present), some Andean countries were experiencing a localized extreme event with devastating consequences. In this presentation, we examined the development of the 2023 El Niño, and compared how the climate information from the U.S., Peru, Ecuador, and Australia agencies evolved and varied. Preliminary results will be discussed and the implications for disaster risk reduction and public health.

Mentor

Dr. Ivan Ramirez