Scientific perspective on the impact of El Nino on the Eastern Mediterranean

Athanasios Argyriou, a physics professor at the University of Patras and member of the Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, recently discussed the indirect effects of the El Nino phenomenon on Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, Argyriou explained that the phenomenon influences regional weather patterns by altering atmospheric circulation, which affects jet stream intensity, the trajectory of low-pressure systems, and the distribution of heat and moisture.

According to the professor, international research demonstrates that El Nino is linked to shifts in atmospheric circulation patterns across the North Atlantic and Europe, though these responses vary significantly by season and specific episode. Studies conducted over the last twenty-five years have identified statistically significant correlations between El Nino events and precipitation changes in various regions. These meteorological shifts can lead to unpredictable changes in temperature and rainfall across Greece and the wider Eastern Mediterranean area, though the professor notes that the impact remains indirect rather than direct.