ONSET OF THE SUMMER RAINS(July – June 1971-2000)

• Changes in the tropospheric circulation and divergence (mean vertical motion) are broadly consistent with changes in the continental-scale precipitation pattern:

• • SW: enhanced DIV, VVEL and PRECIP
  • GP: suppressed DIV, VVEL and PRECIP

H

CHANGE IN OBSERVED PRECIPITATION [MM DAY-1]

CHANGE IN 200 hPA WIND [MS-1] AND DIV[10-6 S-1]

Higgins et al. (1997)

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