Editing Pacific Ocean (section)

== Climate ==
The Pacific Ocean stores and transports large quantities of heat. Changes in its surface temperature affect rainfall and atmospheric circulation far beyond the ocean. The best-known recurring change is the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation]]. Under normal conditions, trade winds push warm surface water toward the western tropical Pacific. Cold water rises near the coast of South America and along the equator to replace it.

During [[El Niño]], the trade winds weaken and warm water spreads eastward. Upwelling near South America decreases, reducing the supply of nutrients to surface waters. The movement of warm water also shifts tropical rainfall and changes weather patterns around the Pacific. During [[La Niña]], stronger trade winds increase the accumulation of warm water in the western Pacific. Upwelling becomes stronger in the east and the temperature difference across the tropical ocean increases.

Tropical cyclones form over warm Pacific waters. In the western North Pacific they are usually called typhoons. Storms east of the International Date Line in the Northern Hemisphere are generally called hurricanes, while those in the South Pacific are called tropical cyclones.