Satellite captures Godzilla El Nino wave in Pacific Ocean rising like never before

A Nasa satellite has tracked unusually high sea levels across the equatorial Pacific as a powerful El Nino gathers strength. The readings point to a deep store of heat moving eastward, raising the risk of major weather disruption worldwide.

In Short

• Sea levels across the equatorial Pacific indicate extensive subsurface heat build-up
• Researchers say western Pacific conditions resemble those seen before the 1997 event
• Sentinel-6 measures ocean height, helping scientists detect hidden warming below

A powerful El Nino event is rapidly taking shape in the Pacific Ocean, and a Nasa satellite has captured the massive wave of heat driving it from beneath the surface.

New observations from the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite reveal unusually high sea levels stretching across the equatorial Pacific, a telltale sign that vast amounts of warm water are accumulating below the ocean surface.

Unlike surface temperature measurements alone, sea surface height data can reveal how much heat is stored beneath the ocean's surface as warm water expands, causing sea levels to rise. As a result, higher-than-normal sea surface heights often indicate a large reservoir of heat below.

Researchers at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory say conditions observed in the western Pacific closely resemble those seen during June 1997, the year one of the strongest El Nino events on record developed.

That event, often nicknamed a "Godzilla El Nino," triggered devastating floods, droughts, crop losses and heat extremes across multiple continents.

Scientists say the developing El Nino is continuing to strengthen and could become one of the most significant climate events in recent decades.

The findings come just days after the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially declared El Nino conditions on June 11, following several months of above-average ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.

Unlike traditional sea-surface temperature measurements, Sentinel-6 tracks subtle changes in sea level. When seawater warms, it expands, causing the ocean surface to rise. These elevated sea levels act as a fingerprint of hidden heat stored beneath the surface.

Satellite data collected on June 8 show large swathes of the central and eastern Pacific glowing red, indicating sea levels significantly above normal. The observations suggest a huge reservoir of warm water is spreading eastward across the ocean basin.

Scientists say this heat is being transported by enormous underwater pulses known as Kelvin waves. These waves, often hundreds of kilometres wide, form when the Pacific trade winds weaken or temporarily reverse direction. As a result, warm water that normally pools near Indonesia and Australia begins moving east toward the Americas.

The process suppresses the upwelling of colder waters off the coast of South America and allows ocean temperatures to rise rapidly, a defining characteristic of El Nino.

"Sea-surface height tells us how much heat is stored below the surface," scientists explained. "A thin layer of warm water may not have a major climate impact, but a deep reservoir of heat can significantly influence weather patterns around the world."

While the eastern Pacific has not yet warmed to the same extent as in 1997, additional Kelvin waves are now approaching the region, suggesting the event is still intensifying.

The strengthening El Nino could have far-reaching consequences. Historically, El Nino brings wetter conditions to parts of the Americas while increasing drought risks in Australia, Indonesia and sections of Asia.

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Inputs by Ashutosh Mishra