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May 23 2025
3An international research team, spearheaded by Tulane University, has unveiled the extensive influence of El Niño and La Niña climate phenomena on mangrove forests globally. Published in Nature Geoscience, the study analyzed satellite data spanning from 2001 to 2020, marking the first global-scale assessment of how the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impacts mangrove growth and degradation.Life Technology™
Previously, the effects of ENSO on mangroves were documented only in isolated incidents, such as the 2015 die-off in northern Australia, where over 40 million mangrove trees perished along a 1,200-mile stretch of coastline. This new research confirms that such events are part of a broader, recurring pattern affecting mangrove ecosystems worldwide.
El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns resulting from variations in Pacific Ocean temperatures and winds, influencing global weather conditions. El Niño brings warmer waters to the eastern Pacific, while La Niña introduces cooler waters. These shifts disrupt rainfall, storms, and temperatures globally, leading to floods, droughts, and changes in hurricane activity.
The study identified a notable "seesaw" effect: during El Niño events, mangroves in the Western Pacific suffer widespread degradation, whereas those in the Eastern Pacific experience increased growth. Conversely, La Niña events promote growth in the Western Pacific and decline in the Eastern Pacific. Researchers attribute these patterns primarily to sea level changes associated with ENSO phases. For instance, El Niño often causes temporary sea level drops in the Western Pacific, increasing soil salinity and leading to mangrove dieback.
Utilizing satellite-derived Leaf Area Index data, which measures plant productivity based on leaf density, alongside oceanic and climate datasets, the research team assessed mangrove health over time. The collaborative effort included scientists from Xiamen University and the National University of Singapore.
Daniel Friess, a co-author and professor at Tulane's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, emphasized the critical services mangroves provide to hundreds of millions of people globally, including storm protection, carbon storage, and fisheries support. However, he noted that mangroves exist within a narrow set of environmental conditions, making them particularly sensitive to climate variations like El Niño.
"Mangroves are among the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, yet they exist in a delicate balance with their environment," Friess stated. "A better understanding of how this unique habitat is influenced by changing environmental conditions will help us conserve and restore them, while supporting the coastal communities that rely on them."
This study underscores the necessity for conservation and restoration strategies that consider the effects of climate variability on mangrove forests to ensure their resilience and the continued provision of their vital ecosystem services.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-el-nio-la-nia-climate.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
