Superniño global population collapse wasn’t how these numbers were first understood.
Large areas of the earth’s surface across three different continents lost their populations over a very short period of time.
Many questions were left unanswered after an event that took place decades ago, and what was happening didn’t look like a typical regional disaster. We’re starting to see a similar pattern form again right now.
What is that phenomenon, and what could possibly happen next?
What happened to so many people
There was a significant drought in the late 1800s in many parts of Asia, Africa, and South America.
Food failed, and all of a sudden nothing was left.
When rains stopped, seasonally based communities became stranded because their primary source of survival no longer came.
Since most of these regions were connected by the world’s oceans, the effects of the droughts happened very fast.
They spread among populations that never had communication before. At the time, satellite and global weather monitoring did not exist.
It would have taken years to understand the full scope of what was taking place.
Everyone could see the dry land, the empty bellies, and the extremely rapid decline in the number of humans living in those places.
Today, we can look back and identify these events as early indicators of something much larger than just local weather changes.
Why did these events happen at the same time
While examining only the droughts themselves, scientists realized something greater was happening.
Separate droughts were occurring simultaneously across continents that should have little or no influence over each other.
Declines in rainfall occurred around the same time. Ocean temperature changes went beyond what was previously understood.
Wind patterns were changing over extensive areas.
It seemed almost like some unknown force was steering them.
Eventually, scientists looked further to connect changes across environmental systems on Earth.
Research examined how ocean conditions affected rainfall and whether those patterns could impact remote locations on Earth.
Disruptions from outside influences were also observed at the same time in distant areas.
This pointed to something much larger than just local conditions.
Closer examination of records revealed disruption of worldwide water flow. That disruption affected normal climate patterns.
This created a new question: how could one single factor affect all continents at once?
Some historical studies from the American Institute of Physics suggest that weather patterns in the 19th century may have contributed to severe regional famines.
What is this phenomenon and what could happen today?
Something was already happening below the surface before it became clear above ground.
Weather was shifting globally, but it was also spreading beyond individual boundaries.
Where does this planet-wide event originate?
This naturally occurring event is called Superniño, an amplified version of El Niño.
A superniño develops when warmer-than-expected ocean temperatures in the Pacific begin to move the global climate system.
These warmer waters begin to weaken trade winds.
They also cause massive changes in rainfall patterns across continents.
Many regions relying on steady seasonal rainfall will experience a loss of rainfall.
Other areas will see an increase in heavy storms.
The severity of this past historical event was the length and intensity of it.
Unlike prior instances, conditions lasted long enough to disrupt agriculture and push populations to the brink of survival.
Now scientists are seeing initial indications that this same pattern is developing again. Rising ocean temperatures along with atmospheric changes appearing in data indicate something significant.
One difference from prior times is our capability to view it as it develops live.
But if this trend continues, what could it lead to this time?