Brief
NASA tracks historic 2026 El Niño as sea levels rise
NASA satellites observe unprecedented ocean warming and sea‑level changes as the 2026 El Niño intensifies.
By Felo News Desk · Published
NASA scientists say the 2026 El Niño is shaping up as the strongest since 1950, with satellite observations showing warming Pacific waters, altered trade winds and sea‑level rises of up to 1.3 feet.
What happened
In January 2026 a Kelvin wave – a long, slow‑moving pulse of warm water – was detected near Micronesia. By early April the wave had reached the eastern Pacific, raising sea‑surface temperatures and expanding water volume. Satellite altimetry now shows local sea‑level increases of 1 to 1.3 feet (30‑40 cm) along the South American coast and toward California, while regions around Indonesia and northern Australia show drops of six to eight inches (15‑20 cm).
What the reports add
The NASA release notes that NOAA estimates an 83 % chance the current event will become the strongest El Niño since 1950. It also highlights that the Kelvin wave mechanism is the "heartbeat" of El Niño, linking heat transfer to wind‑pattern changes that amplify the phenomenon.
What was said
"Kelvin waves are like the heartbeat of El Niño," said Josh Willis, project scientist for sea‑level missions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as quoted by NASA.
How it came about
El Niño cycles occur every two to seven years, driven by warmer‑than‑normal equatorial Pacific waters. The 2026 event follows a series of satellite‑based observations that track the progression from initial warm‑water pulses to widespread atmospheric and oceanic impacts. Earlier this year, NASA’s Earth science program highlighted other climate‑related satellite missions, such as the UAE’s Altair‑1 launch (Felo coverage), underscoring the growing role of space assets in monitoring global climate patterns.
Key facts
- NASA says there is an 83 % chance the 2026 El Niño will be the strongest since 1950. (nasa.gov)
- Satellite data show sea‑level rises of 1 to 1.3 feet along parts of the South American coast. (nasa.gov)
- A Kelvin wave was first observed near Micronesia in January 2026. (nasa.gov)
- Sea levels are 6‑8 inches lower than normal around Indonesia and northern Australia. (nasa.gov)
- Josh Willis described Kelvin waves as the "heartbeat of El Niño." (nasa.gov)
Sources
- [1] nasa.gov — originally reported as “NASA Satellites Observe Historic 2026 El Niño”
