SharePlusScientists have raised alarms regarding the vulnerable state of Galapagos marine iguanas. A severe super El Niño event is destroying their primary food source, the marine algae they depend on. Simultaneously, international researchers report an alarming surge in the illegal black-market trafficking of these unique reptiles, pushing them toward a critical survival threshold.
Police in central Chile have airlifted several residents to safety after torrential rains caused the Mapocho river to burst its banks. The unexpected floods trapped families and pets in their homes in the city of Talagante. Meteorologists report that Santiago received 74mm of rainfall in the first seven days of the month, making it the rainiest October in 76 years. Authorities attribute the extreme weather to an unusually strong El Niño phenomenon.
New research indicates that El Niño and tropical Atlantic warming patterns serve as early indicators for extreme heat events in the Amazon. These climate signals can be detected up to seven months in advance. Scientists from the ARC Center of Excellence and Brazil's National Institute of Space Research analyzed how these natural climate variations impact temperature and rainfall across the Amazon Basin, offering a potential tool for long-term environmental planning.
For the first time in over three decades, the Atlantic basin has seen no hurricane activity throughout September, typically the peak of the season. Experts suggest that a strong El Niño event is the primary driver, creating wind shear that prevents storm development. With the season nearing its end on November 30, meteorologists are considering the possibility of a hurricane-free year, an event not recorded since the satellite era began. While tropical storms have formed, none have intensified into hurricanes.