Sometimes, the surface of the Pacific Ocean warms up, causing changes in the weather in some areas. This phenomenon is called El Niño. El Niño causes the amount of rainfall in some parts of the United States and South America to increase. It also causes droughts to occur in Southeast Asia and Australia. Droughts occur when an area receives less rain than it normally does over a certain period. Explain how Earth’s spheres may be affected by the droughts brought on by El Niño.