El Niño Southern Oscillation in a Changing Climate

Comprehensive and up-to-date information on Earth's most dominant year-to-year climate variation

The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific Ocean has major worldwide social and economic consequences through its global scale effects on atmospheric and oceanic circulation, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and other natural systems. Ongoing climate change is projected to significantly alter ENSO's dynamics and impacts.

El Nino Southern Oscillation in a Changing Climate presents the latest theories, models, and observations, and explores the challenges of forecasting ENSO as the climate continues to change.

Volume highlights include:



Historical background on ENSO and its societal consequences
Review of key El Nino (ENSO warm phase) and La Nina (ENSO cold phase) characteristics
Mathematical description of the underlying physical processes that generate ENSO variations
Conceptual framework for understanding ENSO changes on decadal and longer time scales, including the response to greenhouse gas forcing
ENSO impacts on extreme ocean, weather, and climate events, including tropical cyclones, and how ENSO affects fisheries and the global carbon cycle
Advances in modeling, paleo-reconstructions, and operational climate forecasting
Future projections of ENSO and its impacts
Factors influencing ENSO events, such as inter-basin climate interactions and volcanic eruptions

The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals.