21.   The El Nino effect happens when sea temperatures rise around the equator off the coast of Peru.

22.   The new observations of interaction between the cold South Equatorial Current and the warm North Equatorial Countercurrent included measurements of sea surface temperature.

23.   The satellite is also designed to take detailed measurements of snow cover, rainfall, soil moisture, sea temperatures and winds over the ocean.

24.   The two combine to produce an abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific known as El Nino.

25.   Variations in sea temperatures can reflect shifts in heat exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere.

26.   What seems to have the biggest impact on season rain totals is the ocean temperature, with a warm sea temperature resulting in higher rain totals.

27.   A change in the IPO pattern means sea water temperature and wind patterns reverse throughout the Pacific, Salinger explained.

28.   But Prof Chan said sea temperature was the main cause of red tide.

29.   Climatologists suspect relatively high sea temperatures in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans have indirectly caused the drought, by keeping winter storms from moving through this region.

30.   Dr Man said more of the toxic tides could reappear with warm sea temperature, which encouraged algae growth.