Do You Know the Difference Between El Niño and La Niña?

Recently, you may have heard about something called “El Niño.” But what exactly is El Niño and its sibling “La Niña”? Why do these terms seem to emerge from the depths of the scientific community and drop into popular vocabulary every few years? And how are they connected to extreme weather and our ocean?

What Are El Niño and La Niña?

El Niño and La Niña are part of a natural climate pattern in the tropical Pacific called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. These two phases are different sides of the same coin, creating equally extreme shifts in temperature and air pressure.

El Niño occurs when surface water in the equatorial Pacific becomes warmer than average and easterly winds weaken. La Niña is the opposite: cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures and stronger easterly winds. ENSO cycles can last up to seven years. El Niño and La Niña significantly impact weather patterns in all corners of the globe, often leading to more extreme weather, storm frequency and intensity.

A strong El Niño can cause flooding in some regions and drought, heat waves and wildfires in others. It often causes crop losses, coral bleaching and marine die-offs due to unusually warm ocean temperatures. El Niño tends to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity, though it increases the risk of heavy precipitation and harm to fisheries elsewhere. In the Northern Hemisphere, El Niño typically builds between March and June, peaks in December, and weakens by February.

La Niña, by contrast, often fuels an active Atlantic hurricane season and increases tornado frequency across the southern United States. Like El Niño, it builds in spring and peaks around December.

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Predicting ENSO

In 1923, the physicist Sir Gilbert Walker discovered the “Southern Oscillation,” or large-scale changes in sea level pressure across the tropical Pacific. However, it wasn’t until the late 1960s that the metorologist Jacob Bjerknes found that the changes in the ocean and the atmosphere were connected, and the hybrid term “ENSO” was born. In 1974, researchers at Oregon State University attempted to predict ENSO for the first time.

Modeling has greatly advanced since the early days. Today, scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issue regular predictions about ENSO, which are now more accurate than ever.

NOAA gives a one-in-four chance that an El Niño could reach “very strong” intensity later in 2026, qualifying it as a “super El Niño.” This threshold has been crossed only a handful of times in recorded history, each triggering droughts, floods and record temperatures across multiple continents. NOAA’s data and models deliver life-saving early warning forecasts, like that of the predicted super El Niño, which allow communities to better prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.

Take Action

Every American, regardless of where they live, depends on NOAA’s scientists and professionals, whose work spans from the ocean floor to the far reaches of space. Unfortunately, NOAA is under threat. The Trump administration has proposed billions of dollars in cuts to the agency, which could weaken weather forecasting, disrupt fisheries management and stall critical ocean research, putting American lives and global scientific leadership at risk.

Ocean Conservancy is committed to working with NOAA to keep the public informed on climate and ocean science. We all benefit from a healthier ocean, and investing in research is the most effective way to restore ocean health and reduce the impact of severe  weather events caused by El Niño and La Niña. Our ocean is not partisan, and protecting it requires all hands on deck and all sides of the aisle. Now, it’s more important than ever to demand that members of Congress prioritize our ocean. Add your name now.

The post Do You Know the Difference Between El Niño and La Niña? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Osprey: The Ocean’s Most Specialized Bird of Prey

Have you ever seen a sleek, brown-and-white bird hover above the ocean, fold its wings and drop into the water like a cannonball, only to surface seconds later with a fish in its grip? If so, you have probably seen an osprey.

A water-loving bird of prey

Ospreys are birds of prey, also known as raptors. Birds of prey are carnivorous predators that actively hunt and feed on other animals. However, unlike most birds of prey, the osprey’s diet consists of approximately 99% live fish, including catfish, trout and mackerel. Because of their feeding habits, ospreys, also called sea hawks, have unique traits that make them elite hunters of the sea.

Structure and hunting

When ospreys spot a fish, they dive from nearly 100 feet in the air. During the dive, they close their nostrils, called nares, to prevent water from entering.

Ospreys are the only birds of prey that can dive feet-first into water, allowing them to form a streamlined shape that helps them pierce the surface and protect their heads. Their dense, oily feathers act like a wetsuit, keeping them water-resistant during dives.

Once they make contact with prey, they use their reversible outer toes and barbed foot pads, called spicules, to grip the slippery scales of the fish.

After securing their catch, ospreys use their nearly six-foot wingspan to generate the lift needed to carry fish that can weigh nearly as much as they do out of the water.

Finally, once airborne, the osprey rotates the fish to point headfirst, an aerodynamic adjustment that reduces wind resistance on the flight back to the nest.

This specialized anatomy allows ospreys to catch a fish in approximately one out of every four dives.

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Habitat and breeding

Because of their dependence on fish, ospreys always live within sight of water. They typically build their nests atop dead trees or man-made structures along harbors and bays, such as channel markers, duck blinds and utility poles.

Both parents help construct the nest. These large structures, sometimes exceeding 300 pounds, are built with sticks and lined with materials like moss and seaweed.

Ospreys breed across every continent except Antarctica, inhabiting ocean coastlines, saltwater marshes, lagoons, estuaries, river mouths and even coral reefs.

Osprey pairs incubate an average of three eggs for roughly one month before they hatch. Chicks then remain in the nest for about 55 days before fledging, the stage in a bird’s life when it develops its feathers and wings enough to leave the nest and fly for the first time.

Why are ospreys important for our ocean?

Ospreys serve as living indicators of ocean health. Because they sit at the top of the marine food chain, they are highly sensitive to pollution and changes in fish populations. A decline in osprey nesting success can signal pollution, overfishing or habitat degradation.

That is why at Ocean Conservancy, we are working to address the ocean’s biggest threats, from plastic pollution to the climate crisis. But we cannot do this work alone. We need advocates like you to protect ospreys and all marine wildlife. Please take action and help us defend our ocean today.

The post Osprey: The Ocean’s Most Specialized Bird of Prey appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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How to Have a Plastic-Free Picnic

As the weather begins to warm across the United States, people are taking to parks and beaches once again for picnics, barbecues and other celebrations with family and friends. And while we’re out enjoying nature, we can also protect the places we love from plastic pollution.

Not only are plastics left in a park or on a beach unsightly, they’re also highly dangerous to animals that might mistake it for food. A recent Ocean Conservancy-led study found that consuming less than two dice’s worth of plastic has a 90% chance of killing a seagull.

As you make your plans to head outdoors, here are some easy tips for having a plastic-free picnic and helping to protect animals along the way.

Avoid single-use plastics in food and drink

When planning a picnic, it’s best to avoid food and drinks packaged in plastics. In fact, according to data collected by Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC) participants, plastic bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, food containers and plastic plates and cups are all among the top 10 most commonly found items polluting beaches and waterways worldwide. For example, in 2024 alone, over 4.4 million of these items commonly used at picnics were collected from beaches and waterways around the world.

But packing your picnic without these items is easier than you think! Instead of packing your picnic basket with single-use plastics, bring your food in reusable glass or metal containers or beeswax wraps, buy snacks in bulk, and use reusable or glass bottles or cups. Making your own food and bringing condiments in small reusable jars helps cut down on waste even more. When it comes to plates and cutlery, opt for reusable or compostable plates (like paper or bamboo), cloth napkins and metal silverware. And finally, avoid a foam cooler—use a reusable cooler or insulated bag instead.

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Use non-plastic decorations

Did you know that most confetti and glitter are technically microplastics? And that balloon fragments are one of the deadliest plastics to marine life? Instead of balloons and confetti, opt for fabric flags or recycled paper pennant flags and streamers. You can also use things from nature, like flowers or pinecones, to make your picnic pretty. Or make signs with cardboard or a small reusable chalkboard, which not only look cute but are easy to reuse for your next picnic.

Leave no trace

Don’t forget to pack up and remove everything you brought with you, and sort and dispose of any trash appropriately, aiming to compost or recycle as much as you can. And finally, leave your picnic spot even cleaner than you found it. Take a few minutes to pick up any trash in the area that may have been left by other picnic-goers. Find out the positive impact your cleanup efforts had on ocean wildlife by entering the trash you collect into the Wildlife Impact Calculator. And if you want to help contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s plastic pollution research, you can log what you find in our Clean Swell® app.

Thanks to ocean lovers like you, we’re calling on lawmakers to put our planet and people over plastics. Join Ocean Conservancy and tell Congress to pass the bipartisan Plastic Health Research Act, which would kickstart research into the effects of plastics on human health by directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out, expand and coordinate research programs to help understand the potential health effects from plastic exposure.

The post How to Have a Plastic-Free Picnic appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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All About False Killer Whales

Despite their dramatic name, false killer whales aren’t an orca species. These animals are dolphins—members of the same extended family as the iconic “killer whale” (Orcinus orca). Compared to their namesake counterparts, these marine mammals are far less well-known than our ocean’s iconic orcas.

Let’s dive in and take a closer look at false killer whales—one of the ocean’s most social, yet lesser-known dolphin species.

Appearance and anatomy

False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are among the largest members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). Adults can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, though some individuals have been recorded weighing even more. For comparison, that’s roughly double the size of a bottlenose dolphin—and slightly larger than a typical sedan.

These animals are incredibly powerful swimmers with long, torpedo-shaped bodies that help them move efficiently through the open ocean in search of prey. Their skull structure is what earned them their name, as their head shape closely resembles that of orcas. With broad, rounded heads, muscular jaws and large cone-shaped teeth, early scientists were fascinated by the similarities between these two marine mammal species.

Although their heads may look somewhat like those of orcas, there are several ways to distinguish false killer whales from their larger namesake counterparts.

One of the most noticeable differences has to do with their coloration. While orcas are known for their iconic black-and-white pattern with paler underbellies, alternatively, false killer whales are typically a uniform dark gray to black in color—almost as if a small orca decided to roll around in the dirt. If you’ve ever seen the animated Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, the difference is a bit like when the puppies roll in soot to disguise themselves as labradors instead of showing their usual black-and-white spots.

Their teeth also present a differentiator. The scientific name Pseudorca crassidens translates almost literally to “thick-toothed false orca,” a nod to their sturdy, cone-shaped teeth that help these animals capture prey. Orcas tend to have more robust, bulbous heads, while false killer whales appear slightly narrower and more streamlined.

Behavior and diet

False killer whales are both highly efficient hunters and deeply social animals. It’s not unusual to see them hunting together both in small pods and larger groups as they pursue prey like fish and squid.

Scientists have even observed false killer whales sharing food with each other, a behavior that is very unusual for marine mammals. While some dolphin and whale species work together to pursue prey, they rarely actively share food. The sharing of food among false killer whales spotlights the strong social bonds within their pods. Researchers believe these tight-knit social connections help false killer whales thrive in offshore environments where they’re always on the move.

Maintaining these close bonds and coordinating successful hunts requires constant effective communication, and this is where false killer whales excel. Like other dolphins, they produce a variety of sounds like whistles and clicks to stay connected with their pod and locate prey using echolocation. In the deep offshore waters where they live, sound often becomes more important than sight, since sound travels much farther underwater than light.

Where they live

False killer whales are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They prefer deeper waters far offshore, and this pelagic lifestyle can make them more difficult for scientists to study than many coastal dolphin species.

However, there are a few places where researchers have been able to learn more about them—including the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.

Scientists have identified three distinct groups of false killer whales in and around Hawaii, but one well-studied group stays close to the main Hawaiian Islands year-round. Unfortunately, researchers estimate that only about 140 individuals remained in 2022, with populations expected to decline without action to protect them. This is exactly why this group is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is considered one of the most vulnerable marine mammal populations in U.S. waters.

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Current threats to survival

False killer whales are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. From climate change-induced ocean acidification and harmful algal blooms to marine debris and fishing bycatch, false killer whales face the same mounting pressures that are impacting marine ecosystems around the world. As their prey becomes scarce due to increasing threats, populations of top predators like these decline, serving as a powerful signal that the ocean’s overall health is in critical need of protection.

Here at Ocean Conservancy, we’re working daily to confront these threats head-on and protect the ecosystems and wildlife we all cherish so dearly. But we can’t do it without you. Support from ocean lovers is what powers our work to protect our ocean, and right now, our planet needs all the help it can get. Visit Ocean Conservancy’s Action Center today and join our movement to create a better future for our ocean, forever and for everyone.

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What are Limpets and Why Do They Matter to Our Ocean?

If you’ve ever explored the shores or tidal pools of our ocean, chances are you’ve spotted some small, cone-shaped shells clinging to rocks. These are sea snails called limpets, and they are far more resilient and important than they may appear. 

To feed, limpets use a tongue-like organ called a radula. The radula is covered in rows of tiny teeth, each measuring less than a millimeter in length. The remarkable strength of limpet teeth stems from their structure, which is made of chitin—a primary material in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans—and reinforced by the mineral goethite. Researchers in the U.K. have found that goethite is the strongest known biological material on Earth and is even stronger than Kevlar. Limpets use their incredibly sturdy teeth and radula to scrape algae off rocks with ease, earning them the nickname the “bulldozers of the seashore.”

To move across rock formations, limpets utilize tidal movements and their strong muscular “foot.” This foot is different than a human foot in that it acts as a suction cup to firmly attach the limpet to rocks and withstand the force of waves. The foot also produces mucus, which helps with adhesion and eases movement by allowing the limpet to glide across rock formations. As limpets travel, they also leave behind a trail of this mucus, which helps guide them back to a preferred resting spot during low tide.

Over time, a limpet creates a “home scar,” a small indentation in the rock formed by repeatedly scraping and returning to the same location. During low tide, the limpet uses its foot to seal itself tightly to this home scar and prevent it from drying out. Limpets can live for more than 20 years, often remaining on the same rock their entire lives.

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Why are Limpets Important for Our Ocean?

Limpets play an essential role in controlling algae growth on the rocky surfaces of our ocean.  By clearing algae, limpets create space for other species, like barnacles and mussels, to settle and thrive. Those species, in turn, provide habitat for countless microorganisms and other marine life.

Limpets also provide a significant food source for fish, birds and even humans. In fact, the earliest known evidence of humans eating limpets dates back 164,000 years to a cave in South Africa. Today, limpets are considered a delicacy in many coastal cultures worldwide. 

Unfortunately, limpets face the same threats that affect all ocean species. Dirty fossil fuel production, oil spills and other human stressors are causing our ocean to absorb more carbon and making seawater more acidic. Limpets are particularly impacted by ocean acidification caused by a changing climate. Ocean acidification causes the calcium carbonate in the limpet shells to dissolve, making it difficult to maintain normal function, growth and reproduction.

At Ocean Conservancy, we know that a responsible and rapid transition away from oil and gas toward 100%-clean ocean energy by 2050 is both possible and essential to protect our ocean from the climate crisis. But we cannot do this work alone. Take action and demand bold ocean-climate solutions that protect limpets and all marine species. 

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