What causes the natural event called El Niño? In a short paragraph, describe El Niño and the effects it has on Latin America.

Answer:

El Niño is caused when surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, usually because normal trade winds weaken. It changes weather patterns in Latin America, causing flooding and heavy rain in some areas and drought, heat, and poor fishing conditions in others. These effects can damage agriculture, ecosystems, homes, and infrastructure.