The role of climate variability in Australian drought

Much of Australia has been in severe drought since at least 2017. Here we link Australian droughts to the absence of Pacific and Indian Ocean mode states that act as key drivers of drought-breaking rains. Predicting the impact of climate change on drought requires accurate modelling of these modes of variability.Several authors received funding through the Australian Research Council: A.D.K. (DE180100638), and A.J.P. and A.M.U. (CE170100023). B.J.H. received funding from an Australian Research Council Linkage Project (LP150100062), which was cofunded by Melbourne Water and the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, and supported by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology