Monsoons through Time: Why has the Asian monsoon changed?

The Asian Monsoon System is a major feature of the Earth's climate, directly impacting half the human population of the world. The impact of the monsoon on the supply of water and food, and on the flora, fauna, and ecosystems, significantly contributes to the economy of the region. Moreover, large parts of China are noted for their exceptionally high biodiversity, in part arising from the strong seasonal fluctuations in both temperature and rainfall associated with the monsoon. Future changes in the Asian monsoon remain debated, in part because of uncertainties in their representation in computer climate models. It is important that the models are thoroughly tested against past data.