El Niño Phenomenon and Extreme Weather - October 1997

El Niño Phenomenon and Extreme Weather - October 1997

During the 1997 El Niño event, sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific off Peru rose 3.1°C above normal and were predicted to be comparable in magnitude to the major El Niño of 1982-83. This phenomenon caused droughts and floods in China, and abnormal weather was also observed around Indonesia. These extreme weather events had a severe impact on agriculture, significantly reducing crop production and disrupting global agricultural markets. Food price increases and supply instability occurred, and the seriousness of the effects of the El Niño phenomenon was once again recognized. El Niño is seen as part of global climate change, and its frequency and scale may increase in the future, so there is a need to strengthen early warning systems and promote adaptation measures.