5/9/21, 11:11 AM
The sun may offer key to predicting El Niño, study finds - The Washington PostPage
1 of 5https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/05/08/sun-el-nino-study/Democracy Dies in Darkness The sun may offer key to predicting ElNiñño, groundbreaking study finds Scientists identify possible connection between the solar cycle and whether El Niñoor La Niña is present By Matthew Cappucc iMeteorologist May 8, 2021 at 10:22 a.m. EDT When it comes to long-term hurricane forecasts, tornado predictions in the Plains orprospects for winter rain in California, you’ll often hear meteorologists refer to El Niño orLa Niña. They’re phases in a cycle that starts in the tropics, spreading an influence across the globe and shaping weather both close to home and on different continents.Now there’s emerging research to suggest that cosmic rays, or positively charged, high-energy particles from space, might be the mechanism that flips the switch between phases.
Cosmic rays come from outside our solar system, but the number and intensity that reach Earth hinge on the magnetic field of the sun.A swing between El Niño and La Niña can have dramatic implications on global weather,bringing widespread shifts in precipitation and changes in temperature that can be problematic for vulnerable populations and have massive economic effects. In California,for instance, flood events during El Niño periods have proven 10 times more costly than those during La Niña events. In some parts of the world that depend heavily on agriculture and marine commerce, a flip from El Niño to La Niña can alter daily life
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