WASHINGTON ?EUR" In January, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the climate phenomenon El Ni??o, had reached its mature stage. According to NOAA National Weather Service forecasters, El Nino will linger through the end of spring. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC) reported that early January conditions revealed sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that remained greater than 1 degree above average in December. Temperatures below the surface were above normal in the eastern Pacific, while cold subsurface temperatures were recorded in the western equatorial Pacific. "These sea surface temperatures indicate the mature phase of El Ni??o is in place," said Jim Laver, director of the CPC. El Ni??o occurs when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean remain above average for more than several months. This usually triggers atmospheric and weather changes around the globe. Photo: www.noaa.gov