Lagged teleconnections between snow depth in northern Eurasia, rainfall in Southeast Asia and sea-surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific Ocean

This study shows that above-(below-)normal winter snow depth over European Russia and corresponding below-(above-)normal snow depth over central Siberia is associated with reduced (increased) summer monsoon rainfall over southern and western India and eastern Pakistan, and above-(below-)normal sea-surface temperatures (SSTs) over the eastern and central tropical Pacific Ocean during the following winters. The connection is slightly stronger when snow depth over European Russia is above normal than below normal. These results are derived from an examination of 60 years (1936-1995) of winter snow depth data and SSTs, and 45 years (1951-1995) of summer precipitation records. The results of this study suggest that winter snow depth over the western rather than the eastern portion of Eurasia is critical to Southeast Asian summer monsoon rainfall and eastern tropical Pacific SSTs during the following seasons. Copyright (C) 2001 Royal Meteorological Society.