Record-breaking El Niño warms Pacific Ocean and alters global weather patterns
Forecasters say this year's unusually strong El Niño event is warming the Pacific Ocean faster than before and will likely peak around December.
Trade winds push warm water west
Normally, trade winds blow from east to west across the tropical Pacific. These winds move warm surface water toward Indonesia where it piles up. Colder water rises in the eastern ocean to replace the moving warm layer.
Rising air creates lower pressure zones
Warmer water causes more evaporation which feeds moisture into the air above. The heated air becomes less dense and rises while pressure decreases around it. This rising motion expands as there is less air pressing down from above.
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