This is a simple question with perhaps not so simple an answer. Scientists do expect rising global temperatures to influence the weather patterns known as La Niña and El Niño — but just how strong that influence will be remains unclear. Much will depend on the many other variables that play a part in our daily weather and long-term climate. Those factors include natural variability, competing weather patterns, location, geography, and even the chemistry of the ocean. What are El Niño and La Niña anyway? Before we dive into the nuance, let’s start with the basics. During El Niño years, warm Pac…