An Introduction to "El Niño Southern Oscillation in a Changing Climate"

Abstract:

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest year-to-year fluctuation of the climate system on the planet. Originating in the tropical Pacific, it has major worldwide societal and economic consequences through its global scale effects on atmospheric and oceanic circulation, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and other natural systems. Climate change is projected to significantly alter ENSO’s dynamics and impacts in ways that are not yet fully understood. The Wiley monograph “El Niño Southern Oscillation in a Changing Climate” presents the latest theories, models, and observations, and explores the challenges of forecasting ENSO as the climate continues to change. The book consists of 21 chapters written by 98 ENSO experts from around the world. Highlights of the book include: historical background on ENSO and its societal consequences; a review of key El Niño (ENSO warm phase) and La Niña (ENSO cold phase) characteristics; description of the underlying physical processes that generate ENSO variations; the conceptual framework for understanding ENSO changes on decadal and longer time scales, including the response to greenhouse gas forcing; ENSO impacts on extreme ocean, weather, and climate events, including tropical cyclones and marine heatwaves; how ENSO affects fisheries and the global carbon cycle; advances in modeling, paleo-reconstructions, and operational climate forecasting; how inter-basin climate interactions and volcanic eruptions affect the development of ENSO; and future projections of ENSO and its impacts.