How do La Niña events disturb the summer monsoon system in Brazil?

The rainy season in most of Brazil is associated with the summer monsoon regime in South America. The quality of this season is important because it rains little during the rest of the year over most of the country. In this study, the influence of La Niña events on the summer monsoon circulation, rainfall and temperature is analyzed with seasonal and monthly resolution, using data from a dense network of stations, giving a comprehensive view of the impact of these events. The expected precipitation percentiles during the monsoon season of La Niña events are calculated, as well as anomalies of surface temperature and thermodynamic parameters. This information is analyzed jointly with anomaly composites of several circulation parameters. The analysis shows that some anomalies, which are consistent and important during part of the season, are smoothed out in a seasonal analysis. There are abrupt changes of anomalies within the summer monsoon season, suggesting the prevalence of regional processes over remote influences during part of the season. In spring there are positive precipitation anomalies in north and central-east Brazil and negative ones in south Brazil. These precipitation anomalies are favored by the perturbation in the Walker and Hadley circulation over the eastern Pacific and South America, and by perturbations in the rotational circulation over southern South America. Northerly moisture inflow from the Atlantic into northern South America is emphasized and diverted towards the mouth of the Amazon by the low-level cyclonic anomaly north of the equator. In December and January, probably triggered by anomalous surface cooling during the spring, there is an anomalous low-level divergence and an anticyclonic anomaly over southeast Brazil. This anomalous circulation directs moisture flux towards south Brazil, causing moisture convergence in part of this region and part of central-west Brazil. The thermodynamic structure in central-east Brazil does not favor precipitation over this region, and the wet anomalies in north Brazil are displaced northward. The dry anomalies in south Brazil almost disappear and even turn positive. In February, after the strongly below normal precipitation of January, the surface temperature anomalies turn positive over southeast Brazil. The low-level anticyclonic anomaly is much weaker than in January. There are positive rainfall anomalies in north Brazil and in the South Atlantic Convergence Zone, and negative ones return to south Brazil.     

两广地区前、后汛期降水异常反位相现象及可能机理

利用1961—2018年中国地面气象台站2 400站中广东省和广西壮族自治区(两广地区)134站逐日降水资料、英国Hadley中心逐月海表温度资料、NCEP/NCAR逐月再分析资料,筛选了两广地区前汛期降水正(负)异常、后汛期降水负(正)异常的年份,即前、后汛期降水异常反位相年份。结果表明,近60 a来,两广地区前、后汛期降水反位相现象与热带西太平洋海温异常存在密切联系。前汛期期间,当热带西太平洋海温为负异常时,大气对该冷源的Rossby波响应引起西北太平洋反气旋环流异常,且水汽由热带西太平洋向两广地区输送并辐合,同时两广地区为水汽的湿平流区域、风场异常辐合区域,其上空受异常上升运动控制,这样的环流配置有利于两广前汛期期间降水正异常。热带西太平洋海温负异常可持续至后汛期期间,大气的Rossby波响应所致的西太平洋反气旋较前汛期偏西北,两广地区为水汽异常辐散区域,同时水汽干平流且风场异常辐散,受异常下沉运动控制,不利于两广地区降水的产生。反之亦然。     

Climate variability over the Greater Horn of Africa based on NCAR AGCM ensemble

Summary The variability and extreme wet anomalies in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) climate are investigated based on a multi-year National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) AGCM ensemble data. While the GCM ensemble average reproduces realistic inter-annual variability of rainfall pattern over the GHA sub-region compared to observations, there is a distinct northward shift in the simulated regions of rainfall maxima throughout the season. However, in agreement with observations and many previous studies, the inter-annual variability derived from leading mode of EOF analysis is dominated by ENSO-related fluctuations. On the other hand, the spatial pattern corresponding to the second mode (EOF2) exhibits a unique dipole rainfall anomaly pattern (wet/dry conditions) over the northern/southern halves of our domain during all the three months of the short rains season. When the 3–10 year periodicity is filtered out from the 40-year EOF2 time series of the ensemble mean data, three distinct quasi-decadal regimes in the rainfall anomalies is exhibited for both monthly and seasonal mean data. It is also evident from our results that a combination of anomalous surface and mid-tropospheric flow from northwestern and eastern Atlantic Ocean and easterly flow from the Indian Ocean played a significant role in setting up the non-ENSO related 1961 floods. Coversely, during the ENSO-related 1997 floods, the mid-troposheric flow was characterized by anomalous westerly flow originating from the Congo rainforest that converged with the flow from Indian Ocean along the East Africa coast and over eastern/northeastern Kenya. The anomalous moisture flux convergence/divergence in both the ensemble and NCEP reanalysis is also consistent with the mid-trospheric flow anomalies that are associated with the two wet events.     

2014年夏季长江流域降水季节内振荡的环流分析

基于台站降水观测数据和MERRA-2再分析资料,分析了2014年夏季我国长江流域降水的季节内振荡特征,并从位涡角度重点研究了与之相关的环流演变。结果表明:2014年夏季长江流域降水季节内变率以10~20d的准双周振荡为主。在降水准双周振荡的极端湿位相,受对流层高层随中纬度波列东传的正异常位涡和南亚高压东侧西南向传播的正异常位涡的共同影响,南亚高压呈“马鞍型”分布,在长江流域形成高空辐散环流;在对流层中低层,当中纬度波列的异常气旋向东南传播至长江流域以北时,西太平洋异常反气旋延伸至中国东南沿海,二者共同导致长江流域低空水汽辐合加强;在高、低层环流的共同作用下,长江流域持续性降水显著偏多,形成准双周振荡的极端湿位相;同时,长江以北高空位涡正异常导致其下方冷空气下沉,触发长江流域异常上升运动和南海地区异常下沉运动,该经向垂直环流圈的形成有利于长江流域正异常降水的维持。反之则形成极端干相位。      

1994年印度洋偶极子对两广地区后汛期降水异常的影响机理

利用1979—2017年中国地面气象台站2 400站中广东省和广西壮族自治区（简称两广地区）174站的逐日降水资料、英国Hadley中心的逐月海表温度资料、NCEP/NCAR逐月再分析资料,分析了1994年华南后汛期（7—9月）期间印度洋偶极子（Indian Ocean Dipole,IOD）对两广降水极端正异常的影响机理。结果表明,1994年的正位相IOD事件引起了两广地区后汛期偏多,影响机制主要为两方面：一方面,IOD东极子区域海温负异常时,水汽沿着印度北部-孟加拉湾北部-中南半岛-两广地区和孟加拉湾中部-中南半岛-两广地区的异常水汽输送通道向两广地区输送,使得两广地区水汽异常辐合;另一方面,IOD东极子区域海温异常偏低时,该地区对流层低层异常辐散、高层异常辐合、存在异常下沉运动,两广地区对流层低层异常辐合、高层异常辐散、受异常上升运动控制。上述物理机制共同作用,导致1994年后汛期两广地区降水极端正异常。     

中国西北东部地区春季降水及其水汽输送特征

文中使用 1 96 2～ 2 0 0 2年逐日降水资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料 ,考察了中国西北东部地区春季降水及其水汽输送的气候特征和异常变化。分析表明 ,该地区春季降水时段集中、变率较大 ,具有明显的年际和年代际变化特征 ;水汽主要来源于南部季风区 ,输送路径集中于青藏高原和偏南方向 ,偏东方向输送相对较弱 ,而且西太平洋副高和高原对输送路径具有显著影响 ;多雨年的异常水汽输送主要来源于偏东方向海洋上的异常向西输送和前期由菲律宾及其北部海区的向北输送 ;对异常水汽通量进行分解后发现 :由环流异常引起的平均水汽输送在多数年份的降水正异常过程中起主导作用 ,而平均环流对异常水汽的前期输送对于局地降水异常也有一定贡献 ;多雨年的环流异常集中表现为高度场上位于中国东北地区的正异常中心 ,这有利于偏东、偏南的异常水汽输送到西北东部。结果初步认为西北东部地区的空中水汽资源具有一定的补偿能力和利用潜力 ,该地区是维系西北内陆地区空中水资源乃至水分循环过程的水汽输送关键区     

Links between rainfall variability on intraseasonal and interannual scales over western Tanzania and regional circulation and SST patterns

Summary This study investigates the circulation anomalies associated with the intraseasonal evolution of wet and dry years over western Tanzania (29–37° E, 11.5–4.75° S) and how the onset and withdrawal of the rainy season as well as its wet spell characteristics are modified. It is found that for wet years, the rains begin earlier and end later, with strong wet spells occurring during the season, and there tend to be a greater number of moderate wet spells (although not necessarily more intense wet spells) than in dry years. In dry years, late onset and early cessation of the rainy season occur, often with an extended dry spell soon after the onset, and there tend to be a greater number of dry spells within the season. Large negative outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly values tend to be located between 20° and 40° E with anomalous westerly flow at 850 hPa occurring across the continent from 10° E to the tropical western Indian Ocean during wet spells in the anomalously wet seasons. Anomalously dry seasons are characterised by large positive OLR anomalies over 30–50° E as well as easterly anomalies at 850 hPa and westerly anomalies at 200 hPa. Eastward propagating intraseasonal anomalies are slower during the wet years implying that the convection remains over Tanzania longer. On the intraseasonal scale, Hovmoeller analyses of OLR and 850 and 200 hPa zonal wind indicate that convection over western Tanzania may be associated with a flux of moisture from the tropical southeast Atlantic and Congo basin followed by weak easterlies from the tropical western Indian Ocean.On interannual scales, wet (dry) years are characterized over the Indian Ocean by weaker (stronger) equatorial westerlies and weaker (stronger) trades that lead to less (more) export of equatorial moisture away from East Africa and increased (decreased) low-level moisture flux convergence over southern Tanzania, respectively. These anomalies arise from an anticyclonic (cyclonic) anomaly over the tropical western Indian Ocean during wet (dry) austral summers that may be related to cool (warm) SST anomalies there. Large scale modulation of the Indian Ocean Walker cell is also evident in both cases, but particularly for the dry years.Current affiliation: Tanzania Meteorological Agency, P.O. Box 3056, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania     

Observational evidence for the relationship between spring soil moisture and June rainfall over the Indian region

Understanding the relationship between gradually varying soil moisture (SM) conditions and monsoon rainfall anomalies is crucial for seasonal prediction. Though it is an important issue, very few studies in the past attempted to diagnose the linkages between the antecedent SM and Indian summer monsoon rainfall. This study examined the relationship between spring (April–May) SM and June rainfall using observed data during the period 1979–2010. The Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analyses showed that the spring SM plays a significant role in June rainfall over the Central India (CI), South India (SI), and North East India (NEI) regions. The composite anomaly of the spring SM and June rainfall showed that excess (deficit) June rainfall over the CI was preceded by wet (dry) spring SM. The anomalies in surface-specific humidity, air temperature, and surface radiation fluxes also supported the existence of a positive SM-precipitation feedback over the CI. On the contrary, excess (deficit) June rainfall over the SI and NEI region were preceded by dry (wet) spring SM. The abnormal wet (dry) SM over the SI and NEI decreased (increased) the 2-m air temperature and increased (decreased) the surface pressure compared to the surrounding oceans which resulted in less (more) moisture transport from oceans to land (negative SM-precipitation feedback over the Indian monsoon region).     

Analysis of rainfall variability over Tanzania in late austral summer

利用站点观测资料和再分析资料,采用相关分析,Morlet小波功率谱分析和复合分析等方法,研究了 1961-2011年南半球夏季后期(1-3月)坦桑尼亚降水的年际变化特征,并探讨了相关的大气环流和海温异常情况,以及坦桑尼亚干,湿年发生的机制.研究结果表明:坦桑尼亚1-3月降水变化存在显著的2-8年的年际变化周期和8-12...     

Interannual variability of summer rainfall over the northern part of China and the related circulation features

In this study, interannual variability of summer rainfall over the northern part of China (NPC) and associated circulation patterns were investigated by using long-term (1961–2013) observational and reanalysis data. Two important NPC rainfall modes were identified by empirical orthogonal function analysis: the first is characterized by an almost uniformly distributed rainfall anomaly over most parts of the NPC, while the second shows rainfall variability in Northeast China (NEC) and its out-of-phase relationship with that in North China (NC) and the northern part of Northwest China. The results also suggest that the NPC summer rainfall anomalies are also closely associated with those in some other parts of China.It is revealed that the circumglobal teleconnection pattern associated with the anomalous Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and the Polar/Eurasia (PEA) pattern work in concert to constitute the typical circulation pattern of the first rainfall mode. The cooperative engagement of the anomalous ISM circulation and the PEA pattern is fundamental in transporting water vapor to the NPC. The study emphasizes that the PEA pattern is essential for the water vapor transport to the NPC through the anomalous midlatitude westerly.In the second NPC rainfall mode, the typical circulation pattern is characterized by the anomalous surface Okhotsk high and the attendant lower tropospheric circulation anomaly over NEC. The circulation anomaly over NEC leads to a redistribution of water vapor fluxes over the NPC and constitutes an out-of-phase relationship between the rainfall anomalies over NEC and NC.     

The bi-decadal rainfall cycle,Southern Annular Mode and tropical cyclones over the Limpopo River Basin,southern Africa

The association between bi-decadal rainfall variability over southern Africa and the rainfall contributed by tropical cyclonic systems from the Southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) provides a potential means towards understanding decadal-scale variability over parts of the region. A multi-decadal period is considered, focusing on the anomalous tropospheric patterns that induced a particularly wet 8-year long sub-period over the Limpopo River Basin. The wet sub-period was also characterized by a larger contribution to rainfall by tropical cyclones and depressions. The findings suggest that a broadening of the Hadley circulation underpinned by an anomalous anticyclonic pattern to the east of southern Africa altered tropospheric steering flow, relative vorticity and moisture contents spatially during the sub-period of 8 years. These circulation modulations induced enhanced potential for tropical systems from the SWIO to cause precipitation over the Limpopo River Basin. The same patterns are also conducive to increasing rainfall over the larger subcontinent, therefore explaining the positive association in the bi-decadal rainfall cycle and rainfall contributed by tropical cyclonic systems from the SWIO. An overview of regional circulation anomlies during alternating near-decadal wet and dry epochs is given. The regional circulation anomalies are also explained in hemispheric context, specifically in relation to the Southern Annular Mode, towards understanding variation over other parts of the Southern Hemisphere at this time scale.     

Different Summer Rainfall Anomaly Patterns in Northeast China Associated with Two Kinds of El Niño Events

The relationship between summer rainfall anomalies in northeast China and two types of El Ni?o events is investigated by using observation data and an AGCM. It is shown that, for different types of El Ni?o events, there is different rainfall anomaly pattern in the following summer. In the following year of a typical El Ni?o event, there are remarkable positive rainfall anomalies in the central-western region of northeast China, whereas the pattern of more rainfall in the south end and less rainfall in the north end of northeast China easily appears in an El Ni?o Modoki event. The reason for the distinct differences is that, associated with the different sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) along the equatorial Pacific, the large-scale circulation anomalies along east coast of East Asia shift northward in the following summer of El Ni?o Modoki events. Influenced by the anomalous anticyclone in Philippine Sea, southwesterly anomalies over eastern China strengthens summer monsoon and bring more water vapor to Northeast China. Meanwhile, convergence and updraft is strengthened by the anomalous cyclone right in Northeast China in typical El Ni?o events. These moisture and atmospheric circulation conditions are favorable for enhanced precipitation. However, because of the northward shift, the anomalous anticyclone which is in Philippine Sea in typical El Ni?o cases shifts to the south of Japan in Modoki years, and the anomalous cyclone which is in the Northeast China in typical El Ni?o cases shifts to the north of Northeast China, leading to the “dipole pattern” of rainfall anomalies. According to the results of numerical experiments, we further conform that the tropical SSTA in different types of El Ni?o event can give rise to observed rainfall anomaly patterns in Northeast China.     

海表温度的增暖趋势和自然变率对长江中下游夏季极端降水强度的影响

极端降水引起的洪、涝等灾害每年给我国带来极大的人员伤亡和经济损失。全球增暖使极端降水事件发生的频率增加,强度增强。但是针对不同区域极端降水事件,其贡献究竟如何还有待于进一步认识。本文以我国长江中下游地区的极端降水事件为研究对象,通过典型年份夏季区域极端降水过程的水汽收支特征,探讨海表温度（SST）的增暖趋势和自然变率强迫对该区域典型极端降水强度的影响效应。结果表明:（1）极端降水过程及其夏季都伴随着区域整层大气的水汽辐合,且水汽辐合发生在经向方向。西北太平洋异常反气旋式环流,在区域南边界形成了稳定的西南风异常的水汽输送。（2）典型极端降水过程发生的夏季,SST在赤道印度洋和热带大西洋为强正异常,主要为增暖趋势的贡献,赤道中东太平洋SST异常表现为La Ni?a型。（3）SST增暖趋势和自然变率的数值敏感性试验表明,1998、2017和2020年的SST增暖趋势强迫的区域水汽辐合分别是其自然变率强迫的83%、210%和107%,SST增暖趋势比自然变率的影响更为重要。（4）SST增暖趋势和自然变率都是通过强迫西北太平洋异常反气旋式环流,引起长江中下游区域南边界异常的西南水汽输送,是导致极端降水发生的主要过程。     

Extreme drought event of 2009/2010 over southwestern China

The extreme drought of 2009/2010 over southwestern China is the driest event with the lowest percentage rainfall anomaly and the longest non-rain days during winter season (October–February) in the past 50?years, and also the severest one with the lowest percentage rainfall anomaly at the same period since 1880. The drought domain is characterized with anomalous warming and drying in the mid-lower troposphere as well as an evident anomalous subsidence. The favorable circulation anomalies for this drought are associated with the following two factors. One is the strongest negative-phase Arctic Oscillation during 2009/2010 winter that accompanies with a weakened Middle East Jet Stream (MEJS), the cyclonic anomaly over Arabian Sea (AS), the anticyclonic anomaly over Tibet and the cyclonic anomaly over Lake Baikal. The weakened MEJS, the AS cyclonic anomaly and the Tibet anticyclonic anomaly weaken the Southern Branch Trough (SBT) that directly decreases the moisture transport toward the southwestern China; the cyclonic anomaly over the Lake Baikal causes a deepened and westward shifted East Asian Major Trough (EAT) so that dry cold air behind the EAT easily invades down to southwestern China. The AS cyclonic anomaly favors the westward extension of Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH). The westward extension of WPSH is also associated with the second factor that is the El Nino Modoki event during 2009/2010 autumn–winter. The intensification and westward extension of WPSH enhance the local subsidence, weaken the SBT and exacerbate this drought.     

两广地区夏季降水异常与澳大利亚东侧海温异常的联系及可能机制

广东省和广西壮族自治区(两广地区)夏季降水时空分布很不均匀,存在显著的年际变化。利用站点观测降水资料、海洋及大气再分析资料,研究了近40 a两广地区夏季降水年际异常与澳大利亚东侧海温异常的联系及机理。在年际时间尺度上,两广夏季降水异常与澳大利亚东侧的海温异常存在显著的负相关关系。当澳大利亚东侧海温异常偏高时,一方面,部分水汽由热带中太平洋向澳大利亚东侧海区辐合,部分沿西太平洋副热带高压边缘向东亚地区输送,两广地区为水汽辐散区域,另一方面,澳大利亚东侧海区的对流活动增强,该地区上空的上升运动异常增强,通过"大气桥"遥相关使得海洋性大陆地区的异常上升运动增强,从而加强了东亚地区的局地Hadley环流,使得两广地区下沉运动增强,二者共同作用致使两广地区夏季干旱少雨;反之亦然。     

热带海面温度对亚马逊旱季降水年际变率的影响及机制

用偏最小二乘(Partial Least Square,PLS)回归方法分析了 1979～2018年影响亚马逊旱季(6～8月)降水年际变率的热带海面温度模态.第一海面温度模态解释了总方差的64％,主要表现为前期亚马逊雨季(12月至次年2月)至旱季(6～8月)热带东太平洋La Ni?a型海面温度异常演变.12月至次年2月...     

基于拉格朗日方法评估青藏高原若尔盖地区水汽输送特征

干旱指数一直以来是评估一个地区地表干湿状态的有效标准.为了认识青藏高原若尔盖地区在极端干旱和湿润条件下的水汽空间分布格局,本文基于地面观测资料计算月尺度的标准化降水蒸散指数,提取2000-2017年青藏高原若尔盖地区的极端干旱和湿润状况,利用拉格朗日后向轨迹模型模拟该地区极端干湿条件下的水汽输送路径,并评估潜在水汽源地...     

西北东部夏季极端干旱事件机理分析

利用国家气候中心提供的1951—2012年逐日降水、温度、综合气象干旱指数、逐月NCEP/NCAR再分析资料等,采用REOF分析、动力诊断、相关分析以及合成分析等方法,从大气环流异常特征、高空急流与季风异常等方面揭示西北东部夏季极端干旱事件的可能机理。研究发现西北东部夏季发生极端干旱时,副热带急流轴"倾斜",且急流与东亚夏季风强度均处于相对偏弱阶段。极端干旱的成因研究表明:急流轴"倾斜"及其强度减弱导致西北东部地区高层大范围的异常辐合;该地区为水汽源区,对流层整层水汽收支显著亏损;此外,该地区低层盛行来自内陆干旱区的异常西南风,东亚夏季风强度偏弱,高低层配置及大尺度环流形势不利于降水产生。     

广东6月持续性暴雨期间的大气环流异常

利用1979—2011年共33年广东86个观测站日降水和全球大气多要素日平均资料,分析广东前汛期降水异常(包括暴雨和无雨)的环流特征。结果表明,广东6月持续性暴雨和持续性无雨期间大气存在显著的经向遥相关波列,其中,持续性暴雨过程波列更完整,非持续性暴雨(或非持续性无雨)则波列不显著,而4、5月的持续性暴雨或持续性无雨过程都没有波列出现。在经向波列存在的情况下,对流层中高层大气西风带环流经向度增大、槽脊发展增强,中高纬度这种持续稳定的环流形势,有利于冷空气和高空槽影响华南;在高层200 hPa,华南处于偏西风和西南风异常之间的气流辐散区域,有利于高层辐散;对流层中低层西太平洋副热带高压偏强、西脊点偏西,华南上升、南海下沉的垂直异常经圈环流建立;同时对流层低层来源于印度和孟加拉湾北部以及热带太平洋的水汽输送明显加强,从而为持续性暴雨过程提供有利的环流背景以及暴雨区所需的动力和水汽条件,可见经向波列通过对流层高、中、低层大气环流异常影响持续性暴雨。在没有经向波列的情况下,当500 hPa华南地区有西风槽活动、850 hPa南海北部西风偏强,广东局地动力上升条件和水汽输送条件达到一定程度,则只能出现非持续性暴雨。因此,经向波列可为区分持续暴雨与非持续暴雨预报提供参考。与广东降水持续异常相关的经向波列受中高纬度罗斯贝波、热带对流以及中低纬度太平洋地区大气异常等多方面的共同影响。     

SST variability in the South Indian Ocean and associated circulation and rainfall patterns over Southern Africa

Summary A general circulation model is used to study the response of the atmosphere to an idealised sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly pattern (warm throughout the southern midlatitudes, cool in the tropics) in the South Indian Ocean region. The anomaly imposed on monthly SST climatology captures the essence of patterns observed in the South Indian Ocean during both ENSO events and multidecadal epochs, and facilitates diagnosis of the model response. A previous study with this anomaly imposed in the model examined differences in the response between that on the seasonal scale (favours enhancement of the original SST anomaly) and that on the decadal scale (favours damping of the anomaly). The current study extends that work firstly by comparing the response on the intraseasonal, seasonal and interannual scales, and secondly, by assessing the changes in the circulation and rainfall over the adjoining African landmass.It is found that the atmospheric response is favourable for enhancement of the original SST anomaly on scales up to, and including, annual. However, as the scale becomes interannual (i.e., 15–21 months after imposition of the anomaly), the model response suggests that damping of the original SST anomaly becomes likely. Compared to the shorter scale response, the perturbation pressure and wind distribution on the interannual scale is shifted poleward, and is more reminiscent of the decadal response. Winds are now stronger over the warm anomaly in the southern midlatitudes suggesting enhanced surface fluxes, upper ocean mixing, and consequently, a damping of the anomaly.Examination of the circulation and rainfall patterns indicates that there are significant anomalies over large parts of southern Africa during the spring, summer and autumn seasons for both short (intraseasonal to interannual) and decadal scales. It appears that rainfall anomalies are associated with changes in the advection of moist tropical air from the Indian Ocean and its related convergence over southern Africa. Over eastern equatorial Africa, the austral autumn season (the main wet season) showed rainfall increases on all time scales, while parts of central to eastern subtropical southern Africa were dry. The signals during summer were more varied. Spring showed generally dry conditions over the eastern half of southern Africa on both short and decadal time scales, with wet areas confined to the west. In all cases, the magnitude of the rainfall anomalies accumulated over a 90 day season were of the order of 90–180 mm, and therefore represent a significant fraction of the annual total of many areas. It appears that relatively modest SST anomalies in the South Indian Ocean can lead to sizeable rainfall anomalies in the model. Although precipitation in general circulation models tends to be less accurately simulated than many other variables, the model results, together with previous observational work, emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of SST in this region.With 14 Figures