Supplementary materials




1. Relationship between the dipole mode phenomenon and climate change occurring in the surrounding countries

 The Dipole Mode phenomenon causes drought in the eastern range of the Indian Ocean, such as in Indonesia, and floods in the coastal nations from India through to the eastern coast of the African continent. It has a great influence over the climate of the coastal nations of the Indian Ocean, Australia, and Far Eastern Asia including Japan.
 Recently it occurred in 1994 and 1997, causing large scale floods in the coastal nations of East Africa, especially from autumn in 1997 through to the spring of 1998 (See Table below).

 In addition, the dipole mode caused abnormal weather in Japan as well, as a record-making heat wave hit in the summer of 1994.

Floods disasters in East Africa in 1997 to 1998 and in 1994
DateAreaType of disasterCasualities
Mar. 29, 1997Tanzaniaflood40,000
Late Oct. 1997Somaliaflood230,000
Late Oct. 1997Kenyaflood300,000
Feb. 1998Mozambiqueflood400,000
Feb. 2-4, 1994Madagascarhomes destroyedUnknown
Mar. 24-25, 1994Mozambiqueheavy rainfall, cyclone1,500,000

(Information furnished by the Overseas Disaster Assistance Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

2. About Geophysical Research Letters (GRL)

GRL is one of the world's highest-level scientific journals relating to geophysics (published in the U.S.A twice a month on the 1st and the 15th), and researchers whose work is published in the journal are highly regarded. In addition, this journal also receives acclaim within and out of the scientific community, as it always offers the newest information.

3. Computer used in this research and the calculated results.

A super computer (Cray T 9:32 CPU) installed at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) was used in this project.
In this research using the high resolution coupled atmosphere/ocean model, the Dipole Mode phenomena (index value equal to or greater than 1.5) occurred 8 times during the 50 years simulated, being independent of any El Nino phenomena in the Pacific.

Reference materials: Comparison between dipole mode phenomenon and the EL Nino phenomenon