How do I simulate an El Niño?

Open this page and use the live Daisyworld tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive an El Niño from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Daisyworld

Daisyworld for an El Niño

Simulate an El Niño live in your browser. This runs the real Daisyworld solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

DaisyworldLive

planetary self-regulation (Gaia)

Controls

Speed1×

Watson and Lovelock's Daisyworld shows how life can regulate a planet. Black daisies warm a cold world by absorbing sunlight; white daisies cool a hot one by reflecting it. As the sun brightens, the daisy mix shifts to hold the temperature nearly constant — biological homeostasis with no foresight.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Luminosity0.70

Temperature0.0 °C

White / black20% / 20%

Governing equation

\frac{d A _{w}}{d t} = A_{w} (x β (T) - γ), β (T) = 1 - 0.003265 (295.5 - T)^{2}, L = 0.70

Reading this result: Under a dim sun (L=0.70), dark black daisies (20%) take over and absorb sunlight, warming the planet toward the temperature life prefers.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →

About this simulation

The full Daisyworld tool models an El Niño with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Daisyworld

Daisyworld for an earthquake Daisyworld for a volcano Daisyworld for a glacier melt Daisyworld for a tsunami Daisyworld for a river flood Daisyworld for an ocean current Daisyworld for a sea-level rise Daisyworld for a carbon cycle

Other ways to simulate an El Niño

Energy Balance for an El Niño Milankovitch Cycles for an El Niño Tsunami Propagation for an El Niño Carbon Cycle for an El Niño Earthquake Shaking for an El Niño Groundwater Drawdown for an El Niño

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate an El Niño?: Open this page and use the live Daisyworld tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive an El Niño from your own measurements.