El Niño's 'whole different ocean' to send odd sea creatures to US

Key Points:

• An intensifying El Niño is expected to bring warmer waters off the California coast, leading to increased numbers of white sharks, rays, tropical fish, sea turtles, and even venomous sea snakes, creating "a sharky summer."
• Strong El Niño events disrupt marine ecosystems by suppressing nutrient-rich upwelling, pushing species like squid, anchovies, and sharks northward, and altering the availability of prey for marine predators.
• Scientists warn that while juvenile white sharks are increasing, the rise in brown stingrays may pose a greater risk to beachgoers, potentially causing a surge in stingray injuries this summer.
• El Niño's effects extend globally, influencing marine life behavior and abundance in regions from Peru to the Amazon, with impacts on sea lions, pelicans, fisheries, and sea turtle nesting patterns.
• The current El Niño, combined with ongoing marine heat waves and climate change, is expected to produce prolonged and unusual ocean conditions, prompting scientists to closely monitor marine life and ecosystem changes throughout the year.