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Global warming could make "east-dominated" Indian Ocean Dipole events 80% more frequent

Research suggests that global warming may lead to an 80% increase in 'east-dominated' Indian Ocean Dipole events, which can cause extreme rainfall and drought in certain regions. The study used 40 climate models to assess the impact of these events and found a systematic bias in the models' representation of the ocean region.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateSep 30, 2026

Atmospheric particles slow global warming over India

A recent study found that atmospheric particles, including aerosols and clouds, have contributed to the slower warming trend in India over the past three decades. The researchers discovered that aerosol loading and cloud cover have resulted in significant surface cooling, which would have been nearly twice as large without these factors.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2026

Off-equatorial warming triggered air–sea antagonism that suppressed 2024 La Niña

A new study found that off-equatorial Pacific warming halted La Niña development by inducing equatorial westerly wind anomalies, breaking the Bjerknes feedback. Climate models have been improved by refining ensemble forecasting frameworks to fully integrate off-equatorial ocean signals.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateAug 28, 2026

El Niño has become more intense over last 40 years than the previous 1,000 years

A new study found that El Niño events have become nearly 40% stronger in the last 40 years than they were in the pre-industrial era. The researchers used coral reconstructions from the Galápagos Islands to examine historic El Niño patterns and confirm that the current El Niño event is superimposed on global warming, likely to superchar...

International “State of the Climate” report confirms record-high greenhouse gases, global sea level, and ocean heat in 2025

The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.

SourceAmerican Meteorological Society·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateAug 10, 2026

Arctic ozone soars in 2024 due to series of extraordinary atmospheric events

Scientists have discovered that record-high Arctic stratospheric ozone levels observed in March 2024 were caused by exceptionally strong planetary waves, El Niño, and other large-scale climate oscillations. The study's findings highlight the growing importance of atmospheric dynamics in controlling Arctic ozone variability.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeObservational study·DateJul 22, 2026

Surfing webcams help demystify Oregon’s coastal fog

Scientists use commercially available surfing webcams to measure Oregon's coastal fog, revealing patchy fog patterns along 93 miles of coastline. The study found that airport measurements were a good indication of average monthly fog frequency, but surface weather conditions at the airport were not sufficient for real-time fog detection.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·DateJul 20, 2026

Three Gorges 2025 Climate Report: Second-hottest year on record, worst autumn rains in 43 years

The Three Gorges region recorded its second-hottest year on record in 2025, with an average temperature 1.1°C above normal, and the most extreme autumn rainfall in 43 years. Persistent heatwaves and torrential rains caused widespread flooding and posed new challenges for disaster prevention and engineering project safety.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateJul 14, 2026

Climate oscillations shape nature’s coral refuges in a warming ocean

A study reveals that natural cooling of coral reefs varies with large-scale climate oscillations, including ENSO and IOD. Coral skeletons provide a record of past subsurface temperatures and biological responses to heat stress, highlighting the dynamic relationship between climate refuges and their effectiveness in protecting corals fr...

Simple ocean-based model forecasts El Niño skillfully, points to a strong event ahead

Researchers have developed a simple yet effective ocean-based model that can predict El Niño and La Niña 15 months in advance using only surface temperature and height observations. The model leverages two core climate memories, Wyrtki memory and Hasselmann memory, to achieve forecast skill comparable to more complex models.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 20, 2026

Traveling tropical disturbance increases rainfall across the Hawaiian Islands

A new study reveals that the Madden–Julian Oscillation significantly influences climate conditions in Hawaiʻi, increasing rainfall on windward slopes during active phases and producing drier conditions during suppressed phases. Understanding this impact can help scientists and forecasters anticipate periods of heavy rainfall and drought.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalJournal of Hydrometeorology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2026

Nonlinear and asymmetric response of the Miocene ENSO to increasing CO2 forcing

The study investigates ocean-atmosphere variability under Miocene-like high-CO2 conditions to evaluate climate-model performance in warm climates. ENSO variability peaked under 3×CO2 and was damped under 4×CO2, with El Niño events exhibiting longer mean duration than La Niña events.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateMar 13, 2026

41 US states are getting warmer, all in slightly different ways

A study published in PLOS Climate found that 41 US states are getting warmer, with regional variation likely to impact agriculture, public health, and climate action. Most states experience warming in specific parts of their temperature distribution, highlighting strong regional inequalities in climate change impacts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 4, 2026

Unexpected feedback in the climate system

Researchers found a surprising correlation between West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat and marine algae growth over the past 500,000 years. The study suggests that global warming may lead to reduced CO2 uptake if the ice sheet continues to shrink.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 2, 2026

Scientists discover why some Central Pacific El Niños die quickly while others linger for years

A new study reveals that strong Central Pacific El Niños self-destruct due to negative feedbacks from distant oceans, while weaker events survive by forming a lasting partnership with the North Pacific climate pattern. This discovery enables forecasting months in advance with over 80% accuracy.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateJan 22, 2026

Team evaluates CMIP6 climate models that simulate multiyear El Niño events

A research team evaluated 39 CMIP6 climate models to better understand their performance in simulating multiyear El Niño events and their impact on southern China's spring precipitation. Most models struggle to reproduce the associated precipitation anomalies, highlighting substantial inter-model differences.

SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 15, 2026

NTU Singapore-led study reveals El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years by 2100, cause trillions in economic losses

A new study led by NTU Singapore reveals that El Niño events can persistently slow long-term improvements in mortality rates, leading to enduring reductions in life expectancy. The research estimates that El Niño could reduce life expectancy gains by 2.8 years and cause economic losses of up to US$35 trillion by 2100.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJan 12, 2026

Mountains as water towers: New research highlights warming differences between high and low elevations

A new study by Montana State University scientists explores elevation-dependent changes in climate, including variations in precipitation, surface albedo, and air temperature trends across mountain ranges globally. The findings have direct implications for water availability and use in regions like Montana.

SourceMontana State University·JournalNature Reviews Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateNov 25, 2025