Global climate fluctuations are one of the main causes for creating violent conflicts and unrest, a study by US researchers revealed.

Researcher at the Columbia University’s Earth Institute in New York compiled data from 1950 to 2004, and co-related its effects to data on 235 conflicts in 175 countries during the concerned period.

From the analysis of the data, researchers came to know that the likelihood of civil wars and unrest doubled during hotter, drier years brought by the El Niño climate pattern as compared with cooler years.

El Nino, a naturally occurring weather system that increases temperatures in the tropics every three to seven years, was found responsible in nearly one out of five conflicts during the concerned period.

Professor Mark Cane stressed that climate alone couldn’t trigger warfare, but it had a considerable influence on how much people fight overall.

Commenting on the findings, Prof. Cane said, “What it does show beyond any doubt is even in this modern world, climate variation has an impact on the propensity of people to fight.”

El Nino, caused by alterations in Pacific sea surface temperature, brings warmer conditions and droughts across the world’s several tropical regions, including much of Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, India, Australia and some of the Americas.