It presents changes in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean, when the ocean water cools or heats up by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius from the normal temperature at the same time of the year. It is a cyclical phenomenon that repeats itself every two to seven years and produces changes in the climate of the entire planet. In general, the water in the western Pacific, near the coasts of Japan and Australia, is hot, while the water near the coasts of South America is cold at the surface. When the winds move from east to west drag the hot water out to sea. This allows cold water from the bottom, with the help of the cold Humboldt current, to rise to the surface, bringing with it nutrients that facilitate a good fishing of the area. On the other hand, when the winds in the area change direction and
blow eastwards, it moves the warm water along the South American coasts and preventing the nutrients needed to enable the fishing activity in the region to flourish. At the same time, the atmospheric conditions are altered, notably influencing the climate. The unusual warming of the sea waters gives rise to the formation of clouds, which generate abundant rainfall on the coasts and even, if they are stronger, in the continental interiorof Ecuador, northern Peru and southern Colombia, causing extreme flooding of the rivers.
