188 ecologists warn India of ‘super’ El Niño, urge monitoring

A group of 188 Indian ecologists and researchers has issued an urgent call to prepare for a 'super' El Niño expected to hit India from November 2026 into early 2027. The joint appeal, released in September 2026, warns that Pacific sea surface temperatures have risen 2.6°C above normal since May and could peak at 4°C above average, a magnitude not seen in 1,000 years according to coral core data. The scientists predict extreme heat, weakened monsoons, and marine heatwaves that could destabilise coral reefs, forests, mountains, and freshwater ecosystems across the country.

The ecologists urge real-time monitoring rather than retrospective analysis. They call for maintaining long-term studies, setting up local weather stations, coordinating cross-regional research, and using satellite data to establish baselines. The appeal also warns of cascading effects on human communities: coastal fishing populations may face disrupted fish stocks, agro-pastoralists could see reduced grazing, and urban heat-island effects may worsen. The researchers have appealed to government agencies and funding bodies for logistical support. Rohan Arthur of the Nature Conservation Foundation, one of the signatories, said the goal is to document the event and be prepared, as climate change has made each El Niño more intense.