Fig. 1: Observed dominance of El Niño-like convection relevant for variations in global atmospheric circulations.

In-degree centrality to global anomalous pressure events (units: ×10,000) summed for a all four convection-circulation networks, b two networks based on above-normal rainfall events, and c two networks based on below-normal rainfall events. Two networks in (b) include extreme concurrences between (1) above-normal rainfall and high-pressure events, and between (2) above-normal rainfall and low-pressure events, while the other two in (c) between (3) below-normal rainfall and high-pressure events, and between (4) below-normal rainfall and low-pressure events. High-value regions in (a–c) indicate where anomalous rainfall events are highly concurrent with global anomalous atmospheric pressure events at 300 hPa. The Maritime Continent (10°S–10°N, 90°–160°E) and equatorial central Pacific (10°S–10°N, 170°E–120°W) are outlined by the colored boxes in (a–c). The network results are based on pentad-mean CMAP rainfall and ERA5 geopotential height at 300 hPa during 1979–2016.