Arguably the most significant impacts of surface temperature anomalies are the effects on weather patterns. A study conducted by Fan et al. looked at the sensitivity of Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) precipitation related to SSTA and they found that “SST anomaly patterns … can be viewed as the optimal forcing patterns in inducing ASM precipitation” (2511). This is vital information, because as the authors stated, “The Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) is one of the most important monsoonal systems in the world and its variability can have profound socioeconomic consequences for over 40% of the world’s population” (Fan et al. 2501). The significance of changing patterns in monsoon precipitation is further emphasized in a study focused on the Indian Summer monsoon. Xi et al. outline that being able to predict the variability in precipitation patterns of the Indian Summer Monsoon is a “lifeline for the countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean, whose food production depends critically on this seasonal phenomenon” (4561). The alteration of weather patterns such as monsoons can have very serious implications for countries already struggling to feed their populations, as well as have a heavy impact on affected areas who rely on the export of crops to bring revenue into their economies.