what el nino

El Niño is a climate pattern that originates in the Pacific Ocean along the equator and impacts weather all over the world. It is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, and it occurs every two to seven years in varying intensity. El Niño is part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which also includes La Niña, the "cool phase" of ENSO, characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. During El Niño events, trade winds weaken along the Equator, causing changes in air pressure and wind speed, which can affect weather patterns globally. El Niño can lead to a variety of impacts on weather, ecosystems, and economies, including changes in rainfall patterns, flooding, drought, and shifts in the distribution of marine species. It can also affect the jet stream, leading to more frequent and intense storms over certain regions, such as the western US and South Americas west coast.