In a recent analysis, local spectral peaks of westward-propagating synoptic-scale disturbances along the ITCZ were found in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors. These two peaks are separated by a local spectral minimum over the IAS. This zonal discontinuity in the power spectrum of synoptic-scale disturbances is consistent with the zonal discontinuity in precipitation of the ITCZ over the IAS: the ITCZ in the Atlantic is usually to the south of the ITCZ in the eastern Pacific. Surface winds, on the other hand, show persistent easterlies in the IAS and Atlantic but strong annual (monsoonal) changes in the eastern Pacific. These observations suggest important roles of topography and land-sea contrast of the IAS in the climate and short-term climate variations of the region.