1. West African Monsoon Region of Analysis Total West African Monsoon Region of analysis: 15 o W – 10 o E, 5 o N – 20 o N Sub-Sahel Region of analysis: 15 o W – 10 o E, 7.5 o N – 15 o N Coastal Region of analysis: 15 o W – 10 o E, 5 o N – 7.5 o N

2. Precipitation Patterns Precipitation intensity (mm/day), averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E (WAM) Sub-Sahel Coastal

3. Inter-annual Precipitation trmm data merra

4. Precipitation intensity (mm/day), averaged monthly over : 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM) 15 o W – 10 o E, and 7.5 o N – 15 o N (Sahel Area) 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 7.5 o N (Coastal Area) era-interim gpcp

5. Inter-annual Precipitation Precipitation intensity (mm/day), averaged monthly over 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM), for the years 1999 – 2005. Precipitation intensity (mm/day), averaged over summer months, over 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM), for the years 1999 – 2005. trmm data merra era-interim

6. Inter-annual Precipitation Trends trmm data merra era-interim May June

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8. July August

10. September May-June

12. July-September Precipitation intensity (mm/day), averaged yearly over : 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM) 15 o W – 10 o E, and 7.5 o N – 15 o N (Sub-Sahel Area) 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 7.5 o N (Coastal Area) for the years 1998 – 2007 for trmm, 1999 – 2005 for merra and era-interim, and 1997 – 2007 for gpcp. May-September

14. TRMM Regional Precipitation 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2005 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999-2005) Spring: Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) precipitation (and their difference) averaged over the WAM Summer:

15. TRMM Regional Precipitation 1999 2000 2001 2002 Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) precipitation averaged over the WAM Summer: Spring:

16. TRMM Regional Precipitation 2003 2004 2005 Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) precipitation averaged over the WAM Summer: Spring:

17. Merra Precipitation & Associated Winds 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Spring: Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) precipitation and winds at 925 hPa and 700 hPa, (and their difference) averaged over the WAM Summer:

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19. Era-Interim Precipitation & Associated Winds 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2002 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2002) Spring: Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) precipitation and winds at 925 hPa and 700 hPa, (and their difference) averaged over the WAM Summer:

20. Inter-annual Relative Humidity Vertically averaged relative humidity, averaged monthly over 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM), for the years 1999 – 2005. Vertically averaged relative humidity, averaged over summer months, over 15 o W – 10 o E, and 5 o N – 20 o N (WAM), for the years 1999 – 2005. merraera-interim

21. Merra Relative Humidity & Associated Winds 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) Difference (1999 – 2000) Spring: Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) vertically averaged relative humidity and winds at 925 hPa and 700 hPa (and their difference), averaged over the WAM Summer:

22. Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Associated Winds 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2002 (minimum precipitation) Difference (1999 – 2002) Spring: Spring (April-May-June) and summer (July-August-September) vertically averaged relative humidity and winds at 925 hPa and 700 hPa (and their difference), averaged over the WAM Summer:

23. 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) Difference (1999 – 2000) Merra Relative Humidity & Meridional-Vertical Circulation Merra Relative Humidity & Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September) (and their difference), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N. Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September) (and their difference), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E.

24. Merra Relative Humidity & Associated Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 2000 2001 2002 Merra Relative Humidity & Associated Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 2000 2001 2002 Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N. Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E.

25. Merra Relative Humidity & Associated Meridional-Vertical Circulation 2003 2004 2005 Merra Relative Humidity & Associated Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 2003 2004 2005 Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N.

26. 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2002 (minimum precipitation) Difference (1999 – 2002) Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Meridional-Vertical Circulation Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September) (and their difference), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N. Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September) (and their difference), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E.

27. Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Associated Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 2000 2001 2002 Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Associated Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 2000 2001 2002 Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N, for 1000 hPa – 700 hPa Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E.

28. Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Associated Meridional-Vertical Circulation 2003 2004 2005 Era-Interim Relative Humidity & Associated Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 2003 2004 2005 Meridional-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Longitudinal-vertical circulation and relative humidity in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 5 o N – 20 o N, for 1000 hPa – 700 hPa

29. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) across 5 0 N (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), plotted as [v(dq/dy)] in row one, [q(dv/dy)] in row two, and [v(dq/dy) + q(dv/dy)] in row three.

30. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), across the entire WAM in row one, Across the Sub-Sahel Area in row two, and across the Coastal Area in row three. WAM: Sub-Sahel: Coastline:

31. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) across 5 0 N (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), plotted as v in row 1 and as q in row two.

32. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) across 5 0 N (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), plotted as dv/dy in row 1 and as dq/dy in row two.

33. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 1999 2000 2001 2002 Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) across 5 0 N (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), plotted as [v(dq/dy)] in row one, [q(dv/dy)] in row two, and [v(dq/dy) + q(dv/dy)] in row three.

34. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Flux 2003 2004 2005 Seasonal cycle of moisture flux (s -1 ) across 5 0 N (averaged over -15 0 W – 10 0 E), plotted as [v(dq/dy)] in row one, [q(dv/dy)] in row two, and [v(dq/dy) + q(dv/dy)] in row three.

35. Era-Interim Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), averaged over the West African Monsoon Domain Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), averaged over the West African Monsoon Domain Comparison of total moisture convergence cycles, and its components related to nonlatent and latent heating, respectively plots in progress

36. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), averaged over the West African Monsoon Domain non-latent heat adjusted for precipitation: Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), averaged over the West African Monsoon Domain Comparison of total moisture convergence cycles, and its components related to nonlatent and latent heating, respectively

37. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), averaged over the WAM for 1999 and 2000 non-latent heat adjusted for precipitation: Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ), ) averaged over the WAM for 1999 and 2000 Comparison of 1999 (maximum precipitation) and 2000 (minimum precipitation) total moisture convergence cycles, and its components related to nonlatent and latent heating, respectively

38. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ) averaged over 1000 hPa – 700 hPa in the WAM by total, nonlatent heat- divergent, and latent heat-divergent winds (and the difference). The contours represent associated precipitation values (mm/day).

39. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence 1999 2000 2001 2002 Seasonal cycle of moisture convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ) averaged over 1000 hPa – 700 hPa in the WAM by total, nonlatent heat- divergent, and latent heat-divergent winds. The contours represent associated precipitation values (mm/day ).

40. Merra Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence 2003 2004 2005 Seasonal cycle of moisture convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ) averaged over 1000 hPa – 700 hPa in the WAM by total, nonlatent heat- divergent, and latent heat-divergent winds. The contours represent associated precipitation values (mm/day).

41. Era-Interim Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2002 (minimum rainfall) Difference (1999 – 2000) Seasonal cycle of moisture convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ) averaged over 1000 hPa – 700 hPa in the WAM by total, nonlatent heat- divergent, and latent heat-divergent winds (and the difference). The contours represent associated precipitation values (mm/day).

42. Era-Interim Seasonal Cycle of Moisture Convergence 1999 (maximum rainfall) 2000 2001 Seasonal cycle of moisture convergence (g kg -1 day -1 ) averaged over 1000 hPa – 700 hPa in the WAM by total, nonlatent heat- divergent, and latent heat-divergent winds (and the difference). The contours represent associated precipitation values (mm/day). 2002 (minimum rainfall) 2003 2004 2005

43. Merra Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999-2000) Meridional-vertical circulation, its divergent and non-divergent components, and their moisture convergence in summer (July- August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Column 3 represents the difference between 1999 and 2000 values (the years of maximum and minimum precipitation, respectively). The solid line marks the coast line.

44. Merra Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999-2000) As above, for pressure levels 1000 hPa – 700 hPa

45. Merra Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999-2000) Divergent meridional-vertical circulation, its nonlatent and latent heating components, and their moisture convergence in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Column 3 represents the difference between 1999 and 2000 values (the years of maximum and minimum precipitation, respectively). The solid line marks the coast line.

46. Merra Meridional-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999-2000) As above, for pressure levels 700 hPa – 1000 hPa

47. Merra Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999 – 2000) Longitudinal-veritcal circulation, its divergent and non-divergent components, and their moisture convergence in summer (July- August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Column three represents the difference between 1999 and 2000 values (the years of maximum and minimum precipitation, respectively).

48. Merra Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999 – 2000) As above, for pressure levels 700 hPa – 1000 hPa

49. Divergent longitudinal-vertical circulation, its nonlatent and latent heating components, and their moisture convergence in summer (July-August-September), all averaged over 15 o W – 10 o E. Column three represents the difference between 1999 and 2000 values (the years of maximum and minimum precipitation, respectively). Merra Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999 – 2000)

50. As above, for pressure levels 700 hPa – 1000 hPa Merra Longitudinal-Vertical Circulation 1999 (maximum precipitation) 2000 (minimum precipitation) (1999 – 2000)

51. Merra Spring Nonlatent-Heating vs. Summer Latent-Heating Summer (July-August-September) latent heating plotted against spring (April-May-June) nonlatent heating over the WAM April May June July, August, and September latent heating plotted against April, May, and June nonlatent-heating, respectively, over the WAM

52. Merra Spring Nonlatent-Heating vs. Summer Precipitation Summer (July-August-September) latent heating plotted against spring (April-May-June) precipitation over the WAM April May June July, August, and September precipitation plotted against April, May, and June nonlatent-heating, respectively, over the WAM