Association between premonsoonal SST anomaly field in the eastern Arabian Sea and subsequent monsoon rainfall over the west coast of India

Abstract

Interannual variability of premonsoonal (April-May) surface heat flux parameters together with sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly field in the eastern Arabian Sea has been examined for the period 1975-1984 in relation to the post onset (June-September) summer monsoon rainfall over the central west coast of India. Premonsoonal warm SST anomaly seems to be mainly the result of higher atmospheric subsidence over the ocean and may not be considered as predictor for a good ensuing monsoon, emphasizing the importance of global forcings in the long range forecast of Indian summer monsoon rainfall.