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The article presents a study on the impacts of the Indian Ocean basin-scale sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) on the onset of the summer monsoon on South China Sea. It is observed that basin-wide warming in tropical Indian Ocean occurs after an El Niño event. Changes in the sea-surface temperature sustain the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) effects towards the summer monsoon in Asia and modifies the strength of the Philippine Sea anti-cyclone, which causes delay to the South China Sea monsoon onset. The methods and the conclusion of the study are discussed.

The article explores the spatiotemporal features of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on the sea surface and the subsurface ocean. It was found that the previous positive IOD is associated with the normal South China Sea summer monsoon. Also, a stronger 100-hPa South Asian High is induced by a positive IOD in the summer after an IOD year. Summer rainfall in China is said to exhibit various patterns corresponding to different phases of the IOD, as influenced by the 850-hPa Asian monsoon circulations, as well as the position of the 500-hPa subtropical high ridge.