Southern Oscillation

noun

climatology

: a periodic seesaw fluctuation in sea-level atmospheric pressures over the southern Pacific and Indian oceans that is believed to be linked to El Niño and La Niña events compare arctic oscillation, north atlantic oscillation

Examples of Southern Oscillation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

El Niño is one phase in a recurring global cycle known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, with its counterpart being La Niña. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

El Niño is the climate system’s biggest player and one side of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. — Dillon Amaya, The Conversation, 12 June 2026

That’s because of the global climate phenomenon called the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which scientists say is highly likely to shift into its El Niño phase within the next couple of months. — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 June 2026

The entire natural climate cycle is officially known as El Niño – Southern Oscillation, called ENSO by scientists. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Southern Oscillation

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization