By Zoila Palma: A broad pulse of warmer-than-average water has been detected moving eastward across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, a pattern that scientists say often precedes the formation of an El Niño event.
The signal was identified in 2026 satellite data and is being closely monitored as it approaches the coast of South America.
According to sea level measurements from NASA and European Space Agency satellites, a large area of elevated ocean surface has formed off the coast of Peru and Ecuador. Because warm water expands, higher sea levels in this region are considered a strong indicator of rising ocean temperatures beneath the surface, consistent with early El Niño conditions.
The observations come from the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite, launched in 2020 under NASA and ESA collaboration for the European Union’s Copernicus Programme.
The satellite maps global sea surface height every 10 days with high precision, allowing researchers to track warm Kelvin waves—large ocean disturbances that move heat from west to east across the Pacific.
These Kelvin waves are typically triggered when trade winds weaken or temporarily reverse over the western Pacific, allowing warm water to accumulate and then travel eastward. As the wave advances, it raises sea levels and ocean temperatures along its path. By mid-May, sea levels near Peru were measured at more than 15 centimeters above long-term averages, reflecting significant warming in the region.
Scientists say multiple Kelvin waves have appeared since early 2026, including one forming near Micronesia in January and another emerging in March.
Experts caution that while the pattern is consistent with early El Niño development, the strength and duration of the event remain uncertain, with peak impacts typically occurring later in the year.
The post International News: NASA satellite detects warm Pacific wave signaling possible El Niño development in 2026 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: A broad pulse of warmer-than-average water has been detected moving eastward across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, a pattern that scientists say often precedes the formation of an El Niño event. The signal was identified in 2026 satellite data and is being closely monitored as it approaches the coast of South America. According
The post International News: NASA satellite detects warm Pacific wave signaling possible El Niño development in 2026 appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
