A super El Niño (officially a "very strong El Niño") occurs when Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures rise by 2°C or more, dramatically disrupting global weather patterns. These events can trigger catastrophic flooding, severe droughts, crop failures, famines, and economic turmoil, while also increasing the risk of wildfires and cyclones. Only five such events have been recorded in modern history, though they have become more frequent since 1960, with scientists predicting even more in the future. The most devastating was the 1877–1878 event, which caused a global famine killing over 50 million people, while the 1997–1998 super El Niño destroyed 16% of the world's reefs and led to $5.7 trillion in economic losses. The 1982–1983 event sparked a major surge in scientific research, and the 2014–2016 occurrence further highlighted the growing public and commercial interest in predicting these powerful climate phenomena.