Humboldt Current

The low temperatures of the Antarctic origin waters cause the average water temperature on the west coast of South America by 7-8 ° C lower than the temperature in the open ocean at the same latitude. Along the sea is up to 50 cm lower than the west coast of Indonesia / New Guinea.

Because of the cold sea water also cools the air. Therefore, the coastal area of ​​the Humboldt current form low precipitation desert areas, such as the Atacama Desert in Chile.

With the occurrence of the phenomenon El Niño, the cold Humboldt Current weakens or disappears.