<Even if we could make the kind of deliberate changes of ocean temperature suggested above, it would have many unpredictable effects, and we do not understand the complex processes well enough to know what would happen if it was done. It is important to remember that El Niño is not the only climate fluctuation that is occurring. El Niños occur on a changing background state, which is probably the reason that the various El Niños are somewhat different. So it would not be simple to figure out how to modify the ocean temperatures to get the changes we wanted, even if we had the technological means to do that.

In any case, even if we had a way to channel these effects into direct heating of ocean water, it is clear from the magnitudes involved that people are nowhere near the ability to modify the climate on this scale.





In any case, the nations most troubled by El Niño events are second and third world, so what’s the rush?

The U.S. Spends millions of dollars every year in relief efforts to Central and South America. What’s wrong with “trying” to nip the issue in the bud?

You and I both know that 6 million H-bombs would not be required. Besides, that would raise the temperature of the surface waters -- and that’s what El Niño is. The desire would be to break the cycle, or to at least try and see if there is a projection for improved global weather conditions.

According to the initial post, the flag indicating a pending El Niño is overcast skies in the Mid-Pacific. Cloud cover reflects heat back to the surface, raising temperatures. What would happen if the cover was broken up? Less reflection, cooler waters.

Just a thought,
Dan