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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Gabrielle Canon

What is a ‘super El Niño’ and what might it mean for the global climate?

A man attempting to fight fires on the Greek island of Evia in 2021, as flames flare in the background.
Some forecasting models suggest that temperatures could go beyond a 2C increase for the first time in recorded history. Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP/Getty Images

Scientists and officials are keeping a close eye on conditions brewing in the Pacific Ocean that could spike temperatures and smash global heat records in the year ahead.

It’s still too early to get a definitive picture, but there are signs that a so-called super El Niño could develop this year, supercharging extreme weather events around the world. Some forecasts are suggesting it could become one of the strongest ever recorded.

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