Study turns to El Niño’s past to chart its future

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin are looking at the history of El Niño in an effort to chart its future effects, according to a release from the university. Their study is relying on existing data and computer analysis techniques.

The investigation is looking at the past 21,000 years of the weather phenomenon to see if there are any patterns that can point to its future behavior. Gathering that knowledge is important for scientists, land managers and policymakers, researchers say.

Most of the data used in the study will come from the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado. So far, investigators say that they’ve charted a more intense El Niño over the last 6,000 years.

Top image: El Niño strikes a pier in Ocean Beach, California. (Credit: Jon Sullivan)