Galápagos animals hold clues to El Niño’s threat

The ocean waters around the Galápagos Islands are extremely hot. For centuries, fishers in the Pacific have observed the El Niño weather phenomenon. It begins when trade winds slow down, allowing warm water to spread east along the coast of South America. That pattern is now in full flow. It will build from this year into next, likely bringing record temperatures to an already warming world. If 2026 is not the hottest year on record, 2027 surely will be. The Galápagos archipelago sits at the center of this climate crisis. Scientists believe the unique animals living there can help predict how other marine ecosystems will adapt to a changing climate.