Currently the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is operating a network of buoys to measure temperature, currents and winds near the equator. This data is can be used in predicting short term climate variations. Research is ongoing to understand exactly what brings on these variations in ocean and atmosphere, and how we can accurately predict it. But until then, the people of Peru will keep a watchful eye out each Christmas. The red color in the anomalies plot indicates that the temperature of the water is much warmer than is normal for that month.
Blue color indicates that the water is much cooler than is normal for that month.