Fellows mentioned in this story: Maxine Burkett

From the U.S. Department of State:

When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) declared the beginning of an El Niño event on June 8, 2023, the recurring climate pattern featured in headlines all over the world as media outlets sought to cover its anticipated impacts.

A recent Water @ Wilson event –“The Significance of the Coming El Niño: Understanding the Science and Preparing for its Impacts”—brought together experts at the Wilson Center to explain the complex science behind El Niño and explore its regional implications. The speakers also surveyed the policy tools at our disposal to prepare for its significant climate effects.

Sarah Kapnick, Chief Scientist at NOAA, unpacked what the association’s declaration of an El Niño actually means, stating that there was an “84 percent chance of it reaching moderate El Niño and a 56 percent chance of reaching strong El Niño by the winter.” She added that the NOAA’s declaration of an El Niño only refers to changes in a portion of the Pacific, however, and does not encompass regional warming scenarios elsewhere, such as along the coast of South America.

Whatever the strength of this particular El Niño event, its effects will be felt on a broad scale. In her opening remarks, Maxine Burkett, Deputy Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries, and Polar Affairs, pointed out that “the ocean, marine life, and communities that rely on both are truly bearing the brunt of climate impacts—and this year, those stresses are going to be exacerbated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation.”

Continue reading at wilsoncenter.org.