El Niño is back, and could bring devastation far beyond extreme weather

Extreme weather is constantly in the news, but a new factor is just getting warmed up: El Nino. This Pacific Ocean phenomenon can have devastating effects in some parts of the world while benefiting others; it is linked to droughts as well as floods; and this years looks like it may be severe. Maarten van Aalst, a professor of climate and disaster resilience at the University of Twente, explains how the current El Nino will affect the climate in unpredictable ways. Chris Funk, the director of the Climate Hazards Center at the University of California Santa Barbara, looks at global effects that are already under way. Plus, the harrowing tale of Jack Egan, who lost his home to bushfires in Australia during the last El Nino event. Catherine Brahic, The Economists environment editor, and our correspondent Rachel Dobbs consider how prepared countries are for this event. Alok Jha, The Economists science and technology editor, hosts. Runtime: 39 min For full access to The Economists print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/podcastoffer and sign up for our weekly science newsletter at economist.com/simplyscience. Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | TuneIn