Walid Battal
Globally feared, El Niño is a devastating meteorological phenomenon. Characterized by abnormally high water temperatures, it generally affects the South Pacific. It is accompanied by a seasonal warm coastal current off the coast of Peru and Ecuador. El Niño leads to droughts and/or floods, while impacting marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
However, there is a phenomenon that could counter it: La Niña. Announced by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), this climatic anomaly is marked by episodes of very low temperatures. This meteorological phenomenon, opposite to El Niño, leads to the cooling of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific. It generally occurs every 4 to 5 years and typically lasts one to two years. Its role is to allow the atmosphere to return to its state of equilibrium.
However, it could be as harmful as El Niño. For instance, La Niña could lead to increased precipitation in certain regions of Asia, thereby endangering fragile crops and harvests. It could also contribute to the spread of waterborne and mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue or cholera.