What is the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle?
Provided by: Probable Futures|Published on: September 6, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Sierra Chapin-Keller
Region: Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This explainer describes the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a naturally occurring cycle in the tropical Pacific Ocean that moves between El Niño, La Niña, and normal conditions as heat shifts between the ocean and atmosphere.
- The article explains that climate change does not appear to alter how the cycle works or its timing, but instead amplifies its impacts by building on warmer oceans and a moister atmosphere.
Teaching Materials
Differentiation:
- Consider breaking this dense article up into smaller sections for students with low reading stamina.
- Consider providing students with a graphic organizer to track definitions.
Misconceptions:
- This article the common myth that El Niño/La Niña is caused by climate change
Extensions:
- Consider having students diagram the normal, El Niño, and La Niña phases with arrows for winds, ocean currents, and areas of rising or sinking air to reinforce the ocean–atmosphere interactions described in the text.
- For older students, the closing section on a possible “super” El Niño can anchor a discussion of how scientists use models and past events to forecast future conditions.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Probable Futures
Probable Futures offers useful tools and maps to visualize climate change along with stories and insights to help people understand what those changes mean.
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This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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