El Nino

One of the most spectacular weather patterns of recent years has been El Nino. The formally named Southern Oscillation formed in 1997 over a huge expanse of unusually warm sea in the eastern Pacific, affecting ocean circulation and wind patterns, with far-reaching climate disruption.

It has been blamed for everything from Indian and Texan heatwaves to Indonesian monsoon droughts and rainforest fires and failed African harvests. It is also seen as the culprit for the 'bleaching' of coral reefs and for Hurricane Mitch, which killed thousands in Central America.