Triple dip’ La Nina

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the occurrence of the ‘Triple dip’ La Niña phenomenon.

The La Niña weather pattern is one of the three phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

La Niña is caused by large-scale cooling of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.

La Niña is also the opposite of the widely-known El Niño, which only occurs when the Pacific Ocean water is higher than normal.

‘Triple dip’ La Niña phenomenon means that the La Niña phenomenon has occurred for the third consecutive year in the Pacific Ocean.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) had stated that it is exceptional to have three consecutive years with a la Niña event.

Its cooling influence is temporarily slowing the rise in global temperatures – but it will not halt or reverse the long-term warming trend.

The WMO has stated that this phenomenon would last until at least the end of the year, and for the first time this century, span 3 consecutive northern hemisphere winters to become a ‘triple dip’ La Nina.

Reasons for ‘Triple dip’ La Nina – The continuing La Nina may be good for India but not for some other countries.

Under climate change conditions, one must expect more such instances.

El Niño has been associated with rising heatwaves and extreme temperatures, such as in parts of the US, Europe and China recently.

India’s Northeast monsoon rainfall remained subdued during past La Niña events, but the 2021 monsoon is an exception in recent years.

In 2021, the southern Indian peninsula experienced its wettest recorded winter monsoon since 1901, receiving a whopping 171% surplus of rainfall between October and December.