In a scientific research said to be the first of its kind, researchers in Sydney have discovered that Australia will experience stronger El Nino weather patterns leading to severe drought. Sydney scientists said that human activities causing global warming can cause future droughts.

While El Nino weather patterns usually bring drought in the eastern states, super El Nino cycles have been observed since the 1970s. This extreme weather cause the warming of sea-surface temperatures in the western part of the Pacific basin and is now spreading east. Scientists said this may be a reverse of the usual El Nino.

What NSW University Researchers Found

University of NSW researchers found what triggers stronger El Nino patterns. They discovered an unusually weakening currents flowing west along the Pacific equator. El Ninos that spread eastward are significant because the heat pooling in western Pacific will more likely shift to the east in extreme weather events.

When this happens, Australia may experience extreme rainfall and intense drought conditions, according to lead author of the study Agus Santoso who is also a senior research associate at the Climate Change Research Centre in the university.

As global warming continues, the eastern part of the Pacificis is expected to grow warmer than the west. Winds often respond to differences in pressure. Dr Santoso said there is a consensus among climate scientists that the current will weaken and result in El Ninos spreading eastward.

The super El Ninos in 1982 and 1997 led to highly extreme weather events affecting agriculture and fisheries including the deaths of thousands.

Climate Change Performance Index

Meanwhile, Australia sinks to the bottom of the climate change performance index. The country has also become a negative influence on international efforts against climate change after dropping nearly at the bottom of the world's list of greenhouse gas emitters. With carbon tax in danger of being repealed by the Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Coalition government, Australia has no clear policy against climate change and global warming. Mr Abbott did not send a representative to the U.N. climate change talks in Warsaw, Poland.

Australia fell to 57 out of 61 in the climate change performance index. Denmark became the top performing country against climate change followed by the United Kingdom in second place.

The UK moved to second place after its emissions dropped by 15 per cent as energy efficiency was improved. Denmark was named the top performing country against climate change for its low emissions and "exceptional" climate change policies to keep emissions at low levels.