El Niño is defined as the irregular phenomenon which effects the global climate, located off the west coast of Peru, in the equatorial region of the Pacific ocean. El Niño usually lasts twelve to eighteen months after is begins and occurs about every 5 to 7 years. A change in the direction and intensity of the trade winds extends the warm water current south, down the coastlines of Peru and Chile, which causes what we know as El Niño.

The red area seen is the warm water which was brought back towards the American coast by the on set of El Niño.(Taken from kidsat.jpl.nasa.gov)