美國氣候預測中心指出，今年極有可能出現強烈的「超級聖嬰現象」，這將對全球經濟與自然環境造成重大衝擊。極端天氣不僅會影響農作物產量、推升全球糧食價格與通膨，還可能導致電力需求激增，並干擾水力發電與巴拿馬運河等重要航運樞紐。此外，聖嬰現象也會改變海洋生態系統，嚴重影響漁業資源。
儘管聖嬰現象可能為某些地區帶來豐沛雨量以利農業發展，但從歷史數據來看，其造成的全球經濟損失遠大於區域性益處。科學家預測，聖嬰現象釋放的熱量可能使未來的全球氣溫創下新高。隨著全球暖化加劇，科學家擔憂聖嬰現象的破壞力將進一步被放大，帶來更嚴重的乾旱與更極端的強降雨。
El Niño is a cyclical climate phenomenon that typically occurs every two to seven years. It begins when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean rise abnormally, leading to drastic changes in global weather patterns. This phenomenon weakens or reverses the trade winds that normally blow toward Asia, pushing warm water toward the Americas. Consequently, rainfall and storm tracks shift, triggering drought and extreme heat in some regions while causing heavy rain and flooding in others.
The US Climate Prediction Center indicates a high probability of a severe "Super El Niño" this year, which would significantly impact the global economy and environment. Extreme weather can severely affect crop yields, driving up global food prices and inflation. It also threatens to spike electricity demand for cooling while disrupting hydroelectric power generation and crucial shipping routes like the Panama Canal. Furthermore, El Niño disrupts marine ecosystems, severely impacting ocean fisheries.
While El Niño can bring beneficial rainfall to certain agricultural regions, historical data shows that its global economic losses far outweigh the regional benefits. Scientists predict that the heat released by El Niño could push global temperatures to new record highs in the future. As global warming intensifies, experts are increasingly concerned that the destructive impacts of El Niño will be magnified, resulting in more severe droughts and more extreme torrential downpours.