Humboldt Current

The Humboldt Current (or Peru Current) is a cold ocean current at the west coast of South America. It is named after the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt.

The current originates in the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic, and is thus about 7-8°C colder than the ocean normally at similar latitudes. The cold water also cools down the air, which results in the coastal desert of Chile, the Atacama. The current carries nutrient-rich water, forming the basis for the fishing industries of Peru.

During an El Niño the Humboldt current gets replaced by warm low nutrient water, causing the breakdown of the fishing as well as unusual heavy raining in the normally dry coastal areas.