EL NIÑO

Abnormally warm ocean climate conditions, which in some years affect the Eastern coast of Latin America (centred on Peru) often around Christmas time. The anomaly is accompanied by dramatic changes in species abundance and distribution, higher local rainfall and flooding, massive deaths of fish and their predators (including birds). Many other climatic anomalies around the world (e.g. draughts, floods, forest fires,) are attributed to consequences of El Niño.