It's called La Nina and some scientists say she's got the makings of a monster. The higher temperatures increase air pollution and energy use. Now, NASA scientists are on a new thermal imaging mission to pinpoint who's hot - and who's not, and how we can keep our cool. Technology commonly used to guide lost drivers is now helping geophysicists better pintpoint where an earthquake might occur. The Global Positioning System is being called the most important new technology to emerge for the study of earthquakes in decades.
Geomagnetic storms pose a big threat to the routine technologies which support our everyday living.
Now a new alert system gives space physicists an unprecendented one-hour advance warning of approaching geomagnetic storms. Scientists say El Nino's severe storms and floods could be followed by extreme cold next winter. El Nino is Back. El Nino is a slight warming in the tropical Pacific's sea surface temperature that creates major disruptions in the world's normal weather patterns. Inside Science was one of the first to report on this strongest El Nino in 100 years.