How the Indian Ocean is linked to Europe's early-winter rain and storms

When we think about Europe's winter weather, the Indian Ocean is probably not the first place we look. We might picture Atlantic storms, cold air arriving from the north or rain sweeping across the Mediterranean. In my research, however, I look at how these familiar weather systems fit into a much larger climate system. My colleagues and I asked whether an ocean thousands of kilometers away could leave a detectable signature on Europe's early winter.