Indian Ecologists Call for Wider Ecosystem Monitoring Ahead of Expected El Niño

Nearly 190 ecologists and conservationists in India have called for stronger, coordinated monitoring of natural ecosystems ahead of an expected major El Niño event towards the end of 2026. The researchers want government agencies, funding organisations and scientific institutions to work together to track how the climate phenomenon affects ecosystems across the country.

El Niño is a periodic climate phenomenon associated with unusually warm conditions in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Its influence can extend well beyond the Pacific, affecting rainfall, temperatures and marine conditions in different parts of the world.

According to the researchers, India could experience hot and dry conditions, weaker monsoon patterns and marine heatwaves as the event develops. The India Meteorological Department has indicated that El Niño-related effects could continue until March 2027 or possibly longer. The eventual impact will also depend on other climate patterns, including the Indian Ocean Dipole.

The scientists are particularly seeking sustained observation of marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Their concerns are partly based on lessons from the 2023–24 El Niño period, when researchers and other observers documented extensive coral bleaching in several parts of the Indian Ocean.

Studies from that period found considerable differences in the extent of coral damage between locations. Lakshadweep, for example, experienced substantial bleaching and coral mortality, while some reefs in the Andaman Islands showed lower levels of damage despite exposure to ocean heat. Such regional differences make long-term and standardised monitoring important for understanding how individual ecosystems respond to changing climate conditions.

The researchers have called for quicker approval of monitoring projects, logistical assistance from government departments and improvements to local observation systems. They also recommend continuing observations beyond the El Niño period so that scientists can determine whether ecological changes are temporary or produce lasting effects.

The proposed monitoring network would bring together information from different ecosystems and regions, allowing researchers to build a clearer picture of the environmental consequences of the approaching climate event.

22-09-2026