Scientists work toward more reliable prediction of South Asian summer monsoon rainfall for the upcoming 15-30 years

The South Asian summer monsoon (SASM) provides the principal water supply for over a billion people. In good monsoon years, farmers reap a rich harvest, while in bad monsoon years, severe droughts wipe out crops. And heavy rains during monsoon season cause floods and hit economy badly. Policymakers and stakeholders urgently need projection of SASM for the coming 15-30 years —usually termed as the "near future" in climate research community. Unfortunately, there are large uncertainties in current projection due to climate internal variability.