Abstract The South China Sea (SCS) summer (i.e., June–August [JJA]) monsoon experiences strong interannual variability, which is modulated by the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH). Large‐scale steady‐state atmospheric circulations linked to JJA mean Indian Ocean basin and preceding winter–spring (i.e., January–March [JFM]) and JJA mean central Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs), as well as internal atmospheric variability, influence the SCS summer monsoon and WNPSH. We compare relative impacts of Indo‐Pacific SST and internal atmospheric variability on SCS summer monsoon and WNPSH interannual variabilities. Our results show that internal atmospheric variability is more important than any SST predictor in influencing the SCS summer monsoon and WNPSH variabilities. Also, JFM and JJA mean central Pacific SSTs control the SCS summer monsoon more than JJA mean Indian Ocean basin SST.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: August 18, 2025 04:13 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
425.4 ppm
+18.4
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1934.91 ppb
+9.11
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year