Short-term global warming predictions and analysis can often be complicated by long-term weather patterns. One major weather pattern is El Nino; characterized by a warming of the Pacific Ocean, it can have a major impact on weather patterns from Australia to Maine. Fortunately, El Nino may be weakening in the South Pacific with ocean temps predicted to fall in the coming months. This is welcome news for Southeastern Australia, which has been particularly hard hit by drought for several years — slowing economic growth, damaging agriculture and degrading the quality of life. (Reuters link)