The Climate Observatory of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the San Sebastián University has announced the withdrawal of the El Niño phenomenon, anticipating a drier and warmer period than usual starting in July.
This forecast, part of the climate analysis for 2024, suggests a autumn with a lack of rain and high temperaturesunderlining the importance of this observatory in climate monitoring and environmental risk management.
Paula Santibáñez, director of the Climate Observatory, pointed out that the Pacific Anticyclone, a phenomenon that generates high atmospheric pressure off the northern coasts of Chile, remains active in the central zone, obstructing the entry of marine cloudiness.
Last summer already experienced record temperatures and conditions ripe for forest fires, exacerbated by El Niño and increased greenhouse gases, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The projection for the rest of the year indicates temperatures slightly above normal in the central area of Chile, while in the south they would remain stable.
Santibáñez warns of a rainfall deficit of more than 50% in most of the country by 2024contrasting only with normal figures in the southern extreme.
This drought pattern is expected to persist throughout the year, especially in the central zone, after the arrival of the La Niña phenomenon in July, which will succeed El Niño, lasting until the summer of 2025.
The director of the observatory calls for action against climate change, recalling the discussions at COP28 and the need for firm commitments to mitigate its effects.
The Copernicus alert on record temperatures underscores the urgency of addressing greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the critical moment the planet faces in terms of climate change.