For the recent years we have added the Optimum Interpolation
SST (OISST) data set (Reynolds and Smith 1994).
We also use the monthly precipitation analysis created by
Xie and Arkin (1996) covering the period January 1979 to
December 1998. Table I lists 'strong' and 'weak' monsoon
years selected following the criterion described above and E1
Nifio and La Nifia years based on Nino3 (150W-90W,5S-5N)
SST anomalies together with a list of 'non-ENSO' 'strong'
and 'weak' monsoon years.
In choosing 'non-ENSO' monsoon
years, the criterion of > 1 s.d (or < -1 s.d) was relaxed
to > 0.5 s.d (or < -0.5 s.d).