Daniel Madariaga. A new study warns about the growing threat of “Super El Niño,” an intensified version of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate phenomenon, with potentially catastrophic global consequences.
This phenomenon occurs due to the abnormal warming of Pacific Ocean waters near the equator, altering atmospheric patterns and triggering extreme events such as torrential rains, prolonged droughts, hurricanes, and typhoons.
Daniel Madariaga Barrilado’s warning about glacier loss
Daniel Madariaga Barrilado explains what “Super El Niño” is and why it originates
According to Mexican sustainability and mobility expert Daniel Madariaga Barrilado, the most aggressive form of this phenomenon — “Super El Niño” — has occurred only three times in the last 130 years: in 1982, 1998, and 2015.
Madariaga warns that these extreme events could become more frequent and destructive due to human-induced global warming.
“If the western Pacific continues warming faster than the central ocean, the phenomenon will become more common and its intensity will increase,” the expert explains.
A recent study analyzing climate records from 1901 to 2017 found that the origin point of ENSO has shifted from the eastern to the western Pacific since the 1970s, coinciding with an increase in the phenomenon’s intensity.
This shift, Madariaga argues, is directly linked to rising temperatures caused by human activities.
The effects of “Super El Niño” include rising global temperatures, coral reef die-offs, massive flooding, severe droughts, and billions of dollars in economic losses.
“It is not just an environmental problem; it is a global socioeconomic threat,” Madariaga concludes.
Although neutral conditions are currently being reported, experts agree that its return is only a matter of time.
Daniel Madariaga is a Mexican entrepreneur focused on sustainability and ecological innovation. A graduate of EGADE Business School, he leads projects in vertical farming, green mobility, and eco-friendly construction, while promoting recycling, food recovery, and responsible tourism.