The Indian summer monsoon during peaks in the 11 year sunspot cycle

An analysis of sea-level pressure anomalies at 14 sunspot peaks in the 11 year solar cycle in the Indian region in summer shows that the mean sea level pressure anomalies consist of relatively high pressure over land surrounded by low pressure anomalies over the sea. This signal is robust enough to appear when the data are divided into two segments. The accompanying mean rainfall anomalies, with anomalies as high as 20% above normal, have maxima on the coasts and over water and are an enhancement of the mean Indian monsoon rainfall. In the sunspot peaks the Findlater Jet appears to shift east and strengthen somewhat, consistent with the lower sea level pressure and stronger monsoon rainfall. Citation: van Loon, H., and G. A. Meehl (2012), The Indian summer monsoon during peaks in the 11 year sunspot cycle, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L13701, doi: 10.1029/2012GL051977.