New Features of Global Climatology Revealed by Satellite-Derived Oceanic Rainfall Maps

Abstract Analysis of satellite-derived oceanic rainfall maps reveals certain distinctive characteristics of global patterns for the years 1973–74. The main ones are: 1) the forking of the Intertropical Convergence Zone in the Pacific, 2) a previously unrecognized rain area in the South Atlantic, 3) the bimodal behavior of rain belts in the Indian Ocean, and 4) the large interannual variability in oceanic rainfall. These interesting features are discussed.