evidence: The current El Niño event will likely cause record-breaking average surface air temperatures in several parts of the world before waning this summer, according to a new analysis published in Scientific Reports. [...] Current El Niño conditions are exacerbating the rise in temperatures already happening as a result of human-caused climate change, McPhaden said. "Even though global temperatures are rising because of greenhouse gases, you can get a big spike because there’s this extra boost from El Niño’s release of heat from the ocean to the atmosphere." [...] But as the climate warms, future El Niños will likely continue to create record-breaking heat, McPhaden said. "The escalator of climate change only goes up. The next time El Niño comes along, we’re going to see even more extremes."