Exchanges- Scientific Contributions-

fies three major questions concerning African climate. Of these, the first entails the causes of African climate variability and the second, the ability of current dynami-cal models to simulate this variability. In addition, the role of the ocean basins surrounding Africa in modulat-ing climate separate from that of ENSO is emphasised. The importance of these questions lies in the need to develop our understanding of African climate and in enhancing seasonal forecasting potential. Accordingly, we set out to identify the key sea surface temperature (SST) patterns and circulation mechanisms associated with southern African summer (JFM) rain-fall variability, which are independent of ENSO. The work consists of an observed component (analysing Reynolds SSTs, Hulme rainfall, sea level pressure dat