- News from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society

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La Niña Related Impacts Likely to Continue

A moderate-to-strong La Niña still exists in the tropical Pacific, and IRI forecasters expect it to last at least into April. Climate scientists have already found La Niña's signature in Pakistan, West Africa, eastern Australia and other areas hit with widespread flooding. Experts say continuing La Niña conditions could make some countries more vulnerable to impacts well into 2011. Read the full story + Watch interviews

Need information on El Niño, La Niña and everything in between?
The IRI is at the forefront of understanding, predicting and managing the impacts of climate phenomenon such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). In this video, Brad Lyon gives a rundown of the current La Niña and how it has affected precipitation and temperature. IRI also makes available a number of resources on its web site, including:

The Big Picture. Why we are interested in the ENSO phenomenon.

The ENSO System. Basic and technical background information on ENSO.

ENSO and Society. Impacts and responses, with region and sector examples.

ENSO Quick Look. Current ENSO situation and forecasts, including technical discussions.

IRI ENSO Map Room. View and download ENSO-related climate data.

Upcoming events and seminars...
February 17th: IRI Seminar at Lamont Campus: Climate, Forecast and Impacts Briefing. Our monthly meeting during which we unveil the latest global and regional forecasts, as well as discuss climate-related events around the world. view

IRI in the News...
Socios de SAN entregan información del clima y su impacto en la agricultura
a investigadores de Estados Unidos (Semanario Tiempo, pg 16). view

Views on Climate Sensitive Diseases by Dr. Stephen Connor (pdf, page 30)
(Taiwan Health in the Globe). view

Flooding in Australia Result of La Niña (Voice of America). view

Forecaster: Two phenomena responsible for world's bizarre weather (CNN). view

Tough little girl (The Economist). view

In the science press...

Raised temperatures over the Kericho tea estates: revisiting the climate in the East African highlands malaria debate. Judith A. Omumbo, Bradfield Lyon, Samuel M. Waweru, Stephen J. Connor and Madeleine C. Thomson, 2011. Malaria Journal.

Peruse all of the IRI's scientific publications and reports in our database.

Current seasonal rainfall forecast...

See all of our forecasts...

The International Research Institute for Climate and Society was established as a cooperative agreement between
the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office and Columbia University.
It is part of The Earth Institute at Columbia University.