El Niño releases enough heat to warm the entire planet
This natural climate cycle acts as a massive radiator, dumping heat stored in the Pacific Ocean directly into the atmosphere.
The Pacific Ocean serves as a vast thermal battery for the planet, but during an El Niño event, that battery begins to discharge. This phenomenon occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and tropical Pacific rise by at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above the historical average. As the water warms, it releases its stored energy into the air, effectively acting as a radiator for the globe.
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