Xie-Arkin observations of climatological monthly mean precipitation for the period 1982-98. (a) Jan. (b) Apr. (c) Jul. (d) Oct. Contour interval 2 mm/day. Shaded above 4.

Xie-Arkin observations of monthly mean precipitation on the equator through the period 1982-98. Contour interval 2 mm/day. Shaded above 2 and below -2.

Observed January fluxes of (a) evaporation, contour interval 20 W/m*m

ENSO observational composite precipitation differences. Three warm events (1986/87, 1991/92, 1994/95) minus three cold events (1983/84, 1988/89, 1995/96). (a) Northern winter (Dec-Feb), (b) summer (Jun-Aug).

ISCCP C2 monthly data deep cloud plus CsCc fraction (equiv to QTCM cloud type 1) (unitless).

ISCCP C2 monthly data deep cloud plus CsCc fraction (equiv to QTCM cloud type 1) (unitless).