Which of the following refers to the significant climate impact of the El Niño phenomenon?

The significant climate impact of the El Niño phenomenon is best captured by the alteration of ocean temperatures and currents, which consequently affects global weather patterns. During an El Niño event, the warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern Pacific alters atmospheric circulation. This disruption causes changes in precipitation patterns, leading to increased rainfall in some regions and droughts in others. Furthermore, it can influence the frequency and intensity of weather events, such as hurricanes and monsoons.

The temperature anomalies caused by El Niño also impact marine ecosystems, affecting fish populations and ultimately influencing global food chains. The shifts in ocean currents can also lead to changes in nutrient distribution, further impacting marine biodiversity. This broad influence on weather and climate makes El Niño a critical component of global climatic variability.

While increased water salinity, widespread coral bleaching, and decreased ocean plastic pollution can be related to various oceanic and environmental changes, they are not primary effects of the El Niño phenomenon. Increased salinity is not directly linked to El Niño, coral bleaching can result from other stressors including temperature changes, and ocean plastic pollution is influenced more by human activity than by El Niño's climatic impacts.