The figures show the global rainfall distribution for January, 1998, and January, 1999, observed by PR. Differences of rainfall distribution due to El Nino are clearly seen in these figures.

In January, 1998 (upper panel), since El Nino still continued, heavy rainfall areas in the Pacific shifted from the western to the central Pacific, unlike the normal year. Due to the effects of El Nino, the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) was located along the Equator in the upper panel, and areas of heavy rainfall in the south Pacific shifted further to the east than in the normal year.

The lower panel shows the rainfall distribution in January of this year, at this time the El Nino event already finished. Unlike the upper panel, rainfall amount was small in the central equatorial Pacific and the ITCZ existed in normal location. In addition, large amount of rain was observed in Indonesia and the center of active convection was observed in its normal location.