Effects of El Niño are already being seen

Editor:

The Washington Post reported this week on some unusual results of the current El Niño already affecting the coast of Peru. As you might know, due to the tilt of the earth’s axis, this is winter in most of South America now. Normally, the beaches near Lima, Peru are empty this time of year, but they are swarming with crowds due to summer type atmospheric warmth of 80 degrees. The waters have risen a remarkable 14 degrees above average just north of Lima, caused by what may become the strongest El Niño on record. Sea level has already risen due to the expansion of the waters caused by the heating and flooding is possible in Lima. Modelling shows that central equatorial Pacific Ocean waters might rise to an average of 6.3 degrees by November. That would break records and have “sweeping consequences on global climate into 2027.”

Bruce Bartleson

Gunnison