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El Niño Alters Marine Life in the Pacific
As of June 2026, an El Niño event is strengthening in the equatorial Pacific, reducing phytoplankton concentrations by suppressing the upwelling of nutrient-rich water.
Why it matters
Reduced phytoplankton levels disrupt the marine food web, which can devastate commercial fisheries and force hungry wildlife into urban areas.
The details
- NOAA expects this El Niño to last through early Northern Hemisphere spring 2027.
- Peru's Ministry of Production suspended anchovy fisheries in 2026 to protect resources.
- NASA's PACE satellite provides near-daily hyperspectral measurements to monitor these changes.
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In this article
Key connections
OCI uses Hyperspectral Imaging
The Ocean Color Instrument collects ocean observations across hyperspectral wavelengths.
PACE uses Hyperspectral Imaging
The PACE satellite collects global near-daily hyperspectral measurements.
Matthew Kehrli works at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Matthew Kehrli is an oceanographer in the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Graham Trolley works at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Graham Trolley is an oceanographer in the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
NOAA Climate Prediction Center is a member of NOAA
The Climate Prediction Center is an operational division of NOAA.
Ministry of Production of Peru is located in Peru
The Ministry of Production is a government agency of Peru.
Related events
NOAA Forecasts Strengthening 2026 El Niño Event
Peru Suspends Commercial Anchovy Fishery
PACE Satellite Observes El Niño Impact on Pacific Phytoplankton
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