{"id":28430,"date":"2026-09-19T17:37:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T16:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/el-nino-and-climate-change-is-global-warming-making-it-stronger\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T21:43:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T20:43:44","slug":"el-nino-and-climate-change-is-global-warming-making-it-stronger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/el-nino-and-climate-change-is-global-warming-making-it-stronger\/","title":{"rendered":"El Ni\u00f1o and Climate Change: Is Global Warming Making It Stronger?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>So, does climate change make El <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-strongest-el-nino-events-in-recorded-history\/\" title=\"The Strongest El Ni\u00f1o Events in Recorded History\">Ni\u00f1o stronger<\/a>? The short answer is: we&#8217;re still figuring that out, but there&#8217;s growing evidence it plays a role. It&#8217;s a complex picture, and scientists are constantly refining their understanding. While El Ni\u00f1o is a natural climate phenomenon that has been happening for thousands of years, the way it interacts with a warming world is a hot topic of research. We\u2019re not necessarily seeing individual El Ni\u00f1os become super-powered monsters, but rather a potential shift in their characteristics or frequency, and how their impacts are felt.<\/p>\n<p>Before we dive into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/what-is-climate-change\/\" title=\"What Is Climate Change?\">climate change connection<\/a>, let&#8217;s just quickly get on the same page about what El Ni\u00f1o actually is. It\u2019s not a storm; it\u2019s a natural climate pattern that originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Think of it as a huge, slow-motion ocean and atmosphere dance that influences weather patterns globally.<\/p>\n<h3>What is El Ni\u00f1o?<\/h3>\n<p>At its heart, El Ni\u00f1o is defined by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. This isn\u2019t just a few degrees; we\u2019re talking about a significant warming across a vast area of the ocean.<\/p>\n<h3>How Does it Work?<\/h3>\n<p>Normally, strong trade winds blow from east to west across the Pacific, pushing warm surface water towards Asia and allowing cooler, deeper water to upwell near South America. This creates a temperature gradient. During an El Ni\u00f1o event, these trade winds weaken or even reverse. This allows the warm water to slosh back eastward, suppressing the upwelling of cool water and leading to widespread warming in the central and eastern Pacific. This shift in ocean temperatures then has a knock-on effect on atmospheric circulation, altering rainfall patterns, jet streams, and storm tracks across the globe.<\/p>\n<h3>Its Global Reach<\/h3>\n<p>The impacts of El Ni\u00f1o are far-reaching. In some parts of the world, it brings <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/what-causes-flooding\/\" title=\"What Causes Flooding?\">heavy rainfall<\/a> and flooding, while in others, it leads to severe droughts and wildfires. Think about the shifts in monsoons in Asia, increased hurricane activity in the Pacific, or changes in winter weather across North America. It\u2019s a truly global phenomenon.<\/p>\n<h2>The Warming World: A New Backdrop for El Ni\u00f1o<\/h2>\n<p>Now, let&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/climate-change-causes-effects-and-solutions\/\" title=\"Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions\">bring climate change<\/a> into the conversation. Our planet is undoubtedly getting warmer due to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases. This warming isn\u2019t uniform; different parts of the ocean and atmosphere are warming at different rates. El Ni\u00f1o, as a natural phenomenon, is now playing out on this warmer stage.<\/p>\n<h3>Global Warming&#8217;s Signature<\/h3>\n<p>The scientific consensus is clear: the planet is warming. We\u2019re seeing higher average global temperatures, melting glaciers and ice sheets, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense heatwaves. These are not isolated incidents but part of a larger trend driven by human-induced climate change.<\/p>\n<h3>The Ocean&#8217;s Role in Warming<\/h3>\n<p>Oceans are incredible heat sinks, absorbing a huge amount of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. This ocean warming isn&#8217;t just happening at the surface; it&#8217;s extending to deeper layers. This is crucial because El Ni\u00f1o is fundamentally an ocean-atmosphere interaction, and changes in ocean heat content can certainly influence its behaviour.<\/p>\n<h2>The Interplay: How Climate Change Might Affect El Ni\u00f1o<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" id=\"3\" style=\"max-width:100%;display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:90%;\"><\/p>\n<p>This is where it gets particularly interesting and, admittedly, a bit complex. There are several ways <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-most-important-climate-change-reports-you-need-to-know-about\/\" title=\"The Most Important Climate Change Reports You Need to Know About\">scientists believe climate change<\/a> might be influencing El Ni\u00f1o, and it&#8217;s not always about making every event bigger.<\/p>\n<h3>Changes in El Ni\u00f1o Intensity<\/h3>\n<p>One of the big questions is whether climate change will make El <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-strongest-el-nino-events-in-recorded-history\/\" title=\"The Strongest El Ni\u00f1o Events in Recorded History\">Ni\u00f1o events stronger<\/a> or weaker. Some research suggests that a warmer world could lead to more frequent or more intense &#8220;extreme&#8221; El Ni\u00f1os, which are characterised by very strong warming in the eastern Pacific. These events tend to have more significant and widespread impacts. The argument here is that a warmer baseline ocean provides more &#8220;fuel&#8221; for these strong warming anomalies. However, other studies point to potential mechanisms that might dampen certain aspects of El Ni\u00f1o. It&#8217;s a nuanced discussion, and there isn&#8217;t a single, definitive answer yet.<\/p>\n<h3>Shifting El Ni\u00f1o&#8217;s Character<\/h3>\n<p>Beyond just intensity, climate change might be changing the <em>type<\/em> of El Ni\u00f1os we experience. We&#8217;ve seen discussions about &#8220;Central Pacific&#8221; (or Modoki) El Ni\u00f1os versus &#8220;Eastern Pacific&#8221; El Ni\u00f1os. Historically, the classic El Ni\u00f1o warming has been strongest in the eastern Pacific. However, in recent decades, there have been more events where the warming is concentrated further west, in the central Pacific. Some scientists are investigating whether climate change might favour one type over the other, and how these different flavours of El Ni\u00f1o might have distinct global impacts.<\/p>\n<h3>Altering El Ni\u00f1o Frequency<\/h3>\n<p>Could El <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/what-happens-to-the-pacific-ocean-during-an-el-nino-event\/\" title=\"What Happens to the Pacific Ocean During an El Ni\u00f1o Event?\">Ni\u00f1o events become<\/a> more frequent, or less frequent, in a warming world? This is another active area of research. Some models suggest an increase in frequency, particularly for strong events, while others don&#8217;t show such a clear trend. Predicting long-term changes in frequency is incredibly challenging, given the natural variability of the climate system.<\/p>\n<h3>The Background State Matters<\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps one of the most important ways climate change interacts with El Ni\u00f1o is by altering the <em>background state<\/em> of the climate. Even if an El Ni\u00f1o event itself doesn&#8217;t change dramatically, its <em>impacts<\/em> can be amplified or altered by a warmer baseline. For example, an El Ni\u00f1o-induced drought in an already warming and water-stressed region could have much more severe consequences than a similar drought in a cooler climate.<\/p>\n<h2>Evidence and Projections: What Scientists Are Saying<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\" id=\"2\" style=\"max-width:100%;display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:90%;\"><\/p>\n<p>So, what does the science actually tell us? It&#8217;s a field of active research, and while there are some emerging patterns, there&#8217;s still a lot we don&#8217;t fully understand.<\/p>\n<h3>Observational Evidence: Looking at the Past<\/h3>\n<p>When we look back at historical data, it\u2019s tricky to definitively tease out the climate change signal from natural variability. We\u2019ve had strong El Ni\u00f1os in the past, long before significant anthropogenic warming. However, the last few decades have seen some unusually strong events, such as 1982-83, 1997-98, and 2015-16. Whether these are simply strong natural events or whether climate change contributed to their intensity is a key question. Some studies have found a statistically significant increase in extreme El Ni\u00f1o events since the late 20th century, suggesting a potential climate change influence.<\/p>\n<h3>Model Projections: Glimpsing the Future<\/h3>\n<p>Climate models are essential tools for understanding how the climate system might evolve. These models are complex, but they generally agree that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-shifting-climate-zones-how-global-warming-is-redrawing-boundaries\/\" title=\"The Shifting Climate Zones: How Global Warming Is Redrawing Boundaries\">global warming<\/a> will continue. When it comes to El Ni\u00f1o, many climate models project an increase in the frequency or intensity of extreme El Ni\u00f1o events under future warming scenarios. This is often linked to the warming of the western Pacific, which can lead to a greater east-west temperature gradient in the tropical Pacific, potentially setting the stage for stronger El Ni\u00f1o development.<\/p>\n<h3>The Role of the Western Pacific Warm Pool<\/h3>\n<p>The Western Pacific Warm Pool \u2013 a vast area of very warm ocean water \u2013 is a key player here. As global temperatures rise, this warm pool is expanding and getting warmer. This expansion can influence the atmospheric circulation patterns that initiate and sustain El Ni\u00f1o events. Some research suggests that a warmer and expanded warm pool could make it easier for the conditions favourable to strong El Ni\u00f1os to develop.<\/p>\n<h2>Potential Consequences: Why This Matters<\/h2>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"UTF-8\"><\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellpadding=\"5\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;border:2px solid #f2f2f2\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Metric<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Description<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Observed Trend<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Impact of Global Warming<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Anomalies<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Deviation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/oceanic-or-maritime-cfb-cfc-mild-summers-and-winters-with-precipitation-year-round-common-in-coastal-regions\/\" title=\"Oceanic or Maritime (Cfb, Cfc): Mild summers and winters with precipitation year-round, common in coastal regions.\">ocean surface temperature<\/a> in the central and eastern Pacific from average<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Increased by approximately 0.5&deg;C during strong El Ni&ntilde;o events since 1950<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Global warming raises baseline SST, potentially amplifying El Ni&ntilde;o intensity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Frequency of Strong El Ni&ntilde;o Events<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Number of El Ni&ntilde;o events classified as strong or very strong per decade<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Trend towards more frequent strong events observed in recent decades<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Climate models suggest increased frequency under global warming scenarios<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Atmospheric Circulation Changes<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Alterations in Walker Circulation and jet streams during El Ni&ntilde;o<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Weakened Walker Circulation observed during strong El Ni&ntilde;o episodes<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Warming may further weaken circulation, intensifying weather impacts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Global Temperature Anomalies<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Increase in global average temperature during El Ni&ntilde;o years<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">El Ni&ntilde;o years typically 0.1&ndash;0.3&deg;C warmer globally<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-shifting-climate-zones-how-global-warming-is-redrawing-boundaries\/\" title=\"The Shifting Climate Zones: How Global Warming Is Redrawing Boundaries\">Global warming raises baseline temperatures<\/a>, compounding El Ni&ntilde;o warming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"display:table-row;vertical-align:inherit;border-color:inherit;line-height:40px\">\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Precipitation Patterns<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Changes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/meteorology\/\" title=\"Meteorology - Understanding Weather\">rainfall distribution linked<\/a> to El Ni&ntilde;o<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Increased droughts in some regions, floods in others during El Ni&ntilde;o<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding:12px;text-align:left;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;line-height:40px\">Climate change may exacerbate extremes in precipitation during events<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The interaction between El Ni\u00f1o and climate change isn&#8217;t just an academic exercise; it has real-world implications for billions of people and countless ecosystems.<\/p>\n<h3>Amplified Extreme Weather Events<\/h3>\n<p>If El Ni\u00f1o events, particularly strong ones, occur in a warmer world, their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/extreme-climates-the-hottest-and-coldest-places-on-earth\/\" title=\"Extreme Climates: The Hottest and Coldest Places on Earth\">associated extreme weather events<\/a> \u2013 droughts, floods, heatwaves \u2013 could be more severe. For example, an El Ni\u00f1o-induced drought in a region already experiencing hotter temperatures due to climate change could lead to more intense heat stress, greater water scarcity, and increased fire risk. Similarly, El Ni\u00f1o-driven heavy rainfall in an area experiencing more intense downpours due to climate change could result in more severe flooding.<\/p>\n<h3>Food Security and Agriculture<\/h3>\n<p>Agriculture is highly sensitive to weather patterns. Changes in rainfall, temperature, and the frequency of extreme events due to El Ni\u00f1o and climate change can severely impact crop yields, livestock, and fisheries. This can lead to food shortages, price volatility, and increased food insecurity, particularly in vulnerable regions that rely heavily on rain-fed agriculture.<\/p>\n<h3>Ecosystems and Biodiversity<\/h3>\n<p>Ecosystems are already stressed by climate change, and the added pressure of potentially more extreme or frequent El Ni\u00f1o events could push many to their breaking point. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/barbados-marine-life-and-coral-reefs-explained\/\" title=\"Barbados' Marine Life and Coral Reefs Explained\">Coral reefs<\/a>, for instance, are highly susceptible to ocean warming during El Ni\u00f1o events, leading to widespread bleaching. If these warming events become more intense or frequent, the recovery time for reefs diminishes, threatening their long-term survival. Forests, wetlands, and marine life all face similar challenges from altered weather patterns.<\/p>\n<h3>Economic and Social Impacts<\/h3>\n<p>The economic and social costs of climate-influenced El Ni\u00f1o events are substantial. Damage from floods and droughts, losses in agriculture, disruption to supply chains, increased demands on disaster relief, and health impacts can run into billions of pounds. These impacts often disproportionately affect developing nations with fewer resources to adapt and recover.<\/p>\n<h2>What&#8217;s Next: Continued Research and Adaptation<\/h2>\n<p>Understanding the full extent of the El <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/how-el-nino-changes-weather-around-the-world\/\" title=\"How El Ni\u00f1o Changes Weather Around the World\">Ni\u00f1o-climate change relationship<\/a> is a continuous effort. Scientists are constantly refining their models, gathering more data, and improving their analytical techniques.<\/p>\n<h3>Improving Predictions<\/h3>\n<p>Better understanding this interaction is crucial for improving our ability to predict future El Ni\u00f1o events and their impacts. More accurate forecasts can provide lead time for communities and governments to prepare for droughts, floods, and other extremes, potentially saving lives and reducing economic losses.<\/p>\n<h3>Adaptation Strategies<\/h3>\n<p>Regardless of the precise impact on El Ni\u00f1o, a warmer world means we need robust adaptation strategies. This includes developing drought-resistant crops, improving water management systems, strengthening flood defences, and establishing early warning systems. Communities need to be more resilient to a wider range of weather extremes.<\/p>\n<h3>Mitigation Efforts<\/h3>\n<p>Ultimately, addressing the root cause of climate change \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/carbon-emissions-reduction\/\" title=\"Carbon emissions reduction\">reducing greenhouse gas emissions<\/a> \u2013 is paramount. While El Ni\u00f1o is a natural phenomenon, mitigating climate change will lessen the background warming that interacts with these events, potentially reducing the amplification of their impacts and helping to stabilise the climate system in the long run.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, while El Ni\u00f1o is a natural part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-difference-between-weather-and-climate\/\" title=\"The Difference Between Weather and Climate\">planet&#8217;s climate cycle<\/a>, there&#8217;s growing evidence that global warming is changing how it operates and how its impacts are felt. We\u2019re not looking at a simple one-to-one connection, but rather a complex interplay where a warming ocean and atmosphere can alter the intensity, character, and frequency of El Ni\u00f1o events, and significantly amplify their consequences. The scientific community continues to work hard on unravelling these complexities, and their findings are vital for guiding our efforts to adapt to and mitigate a changing climate.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3>What is El Ni\u00f1o?<\/h3>\n<p>El Ni\u00f1o is a climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/the-worlds-largest-oceans\/\" title=\"The World's Largest Oceans\">eastern tropical Pacific Ocean<\/a>. It occurs irregularly every 2-7 years and can have significant impacts on weather patterns worldwide.<\/p>\n<h3>How does El Ni\u00f1o affect global weather patterns?<\/h3>\n<p>During an El Ni\u00f1o event, changes in sea surface temperatures can lead to shifts in atmospheric circulation, affecting weather patterns around the globe. This can result in increased rainfall in some regions, droughts in others, and changes in temperature and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/tropical-storms-and-monsoons-the-role-of-climate-zones-in-extreme-weather\/\" title=\"Tropical Storms and Monsoons: The Role of Climate Zones in Extreme Weather\">storm patterns<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Is there a link between El Ni\u00f1o and climate change?<\/h3>\n<p>While El Ni\u00f1o is a natural climate phenomenon, there is evidence to suggest that climate change may be influencing its intensity and frequency. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/el-nino-and-global-temperatures-why-can-it-make-the-world-warmer\/\" title=\"El Ni\u00f1o and Global Temperatures: Why Can It Make the World Warmer?\">Warmer ocean temperatures<\/a> due to global warming can potentially enhance El Ni\u00f1o events, making them stronger and more frequent.<\/p>\n<h3>How does global warming impact El Ni\u00f1o?<\/h3>\n<p>Global warming can contribute to the intensification of El Ni\u00f1o events by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/climate-change-and-rising-sea-levels-in-the-bahamas\/\" title=\"Climate Change and Rising Sea Levels in the Bahamas\">increasing sea surface temperatures<\/a> in the tropical Pacific Ocean. This can lead to more energy being available for the development of stronger El Ni\u00f1o events, potentially causing more extreme weather patterns.<\/p>\n<h3>What are the implications of a stronger El Ni\u00f1o on climate change?<\/h3>\n<p>A stronger El <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earth-site.co.uk\/Education\/how-el-nino-changes-weather-around-the-world\/\" title=\"How El Ni\u00f1o Changes Weather Around the World\">Ni\u00f1o driven<\/a> by global warming could have far-reaching consequences, including more frequent and intense weather events such as droughts, floods, and storms. This could impact agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and communities around the world, highlighting the importance of addressing climate change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So, does climate change make El Ni\u00f1o stronger? The short answer is: we&#8217;re still figuring that out, but there&#8217;s growing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yoast_wpseo_title":["El Ni\u00f1o and Climate Change: Is Global Warming Making It Stronger?\r"],"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["So, does climate change make El Ni\u00f1o stronger? The short answer is: we're still figuring that out, but there's growing evidence it plays a role..."],"rank_math_title":["El Ni\u00f1o and Climate Change: Is Global Warming Making It Stronger?\r"],"_rank_math_title":["El Ni\u00f1o and Climate Change: Is Global Warming Making It Stronger?\r"],"rank_math_description":["So, does climate change make El Ni\u00f1o stronger? The short answer is: we're still figuring that out, but there's growing evidence it plays a role..."],"_rank_math_description":["So, does climate change make El Ni\u00f1o stronger? 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