Characteristics of the broadscale southern hemisphere circulation are examined for the winters of 1972 and-1973 when markedly diverse patterns of rainfall occurred over the southern continents. The principal significant contrasts occur in the latitude of the subtropical high pressure belt in particular regions and the longitudes of its pressure maxima, in the strength of the mid-latitude westerlies primarily at Pacific longitudes and in the sign and pattern of change of the Southern Oscillation Index. Lesser though distinct variation is evident in the characteristics of the Antarctic trough and the gross pattern of cyclonic distribution. The limited available data indicate contrasting sea surface temperature anomalies in the Australian sector. Sea ice data show only small variability between the two seasons but with contrasting late season anomalies in the Ross and Weddell sectors.
N. A. Streten (Thu,) studied this question.