Quito, June 8 (Prensa Latina) The National Committee for the Regional Study of the El Niño Phenomenon (Erfen) warned today that this climatic event will cause sea levels to rise along the coasts of Ecuador over the next three months.
The Erfen also revealed that during this period, precipitation and average air temperature here will be above their normal coastal values.
For its part, the Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute of the Navy (Inocar) explained that sea-level rise responds to the passage of Kelvin heat waves moving through the equatorial Pacific, providing thermal energy and raising sea levels, experts from this scientific institution said.
This increase in shoreline may impact tourism use of the beaches because it coincides with wave motion events such as swell, Inocar said.
Inocar pointed out last May that high temperatures of up to 0.4 degrees Celsius were reported in the central Pacific and there was a 2.23 degree rise off the coasts.
Increased warming and evaporation of the water has contributed to rainfall along the Ecuadorian coast since May 20.
This Tuesday, the Ecuadorian government announced a series of measures to deal with this natural phenomenon after criticizing the lack of a strategy to mitigate its effects.
In a meeting chaired by President Guillermo Lasso, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) decided to remain permanently active to coordinate the response to the effects of the rains and El Niño.
Planned actions include the drafting of an Economic Urgency Bill by the Department of Foreign Trade to mitigate the risks and impacts of El Niño.
The COE, in turn, asked the Risk Management Secretariat for an action plan against this phenomenon, to be presented on June 16.
mem/nta