Super El Niño risks repeat of historic famine; political interference in climate forecasting criticized
By
Guardian staff reporter
Summary
The article draws parallels between the 1877 "year without a winter" and the devastating El Niño-driven Great Famine that killed 30-60 million people, and warns that a similar super El Niño threatens disaster today. It criticizes the current administration for interrupting data streams and forecasting systems that are crucial for predicting and preparing for such climate events, arguing these systems should not be vulnerable to political interference.
Source
bskySuper El Niño risks repeat of historic famine; political interference in climate forecasting criticizedtheguardian.comKey quotes
· 4 pulledIn 1877, North Americans experienced an unusually mild winter – it was known as the 'year without a winter'.
The drought, compounded by colonial and other socioeconomic policies, led to the 'Great Famine', which killed between 30 and 60 million people, about 3% of the world's population at the time.
The administration interrupted data streams that are key to forecasting.
These systems should not be vulnerable to political whims
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