Abstract: By use of Godas monthly sub-surface sea temperature (ST), the similarity of ST among different layers is analyzed, and ST is layered in the North Pacific region for winter, spring, and summer. The time-lag correlations among the 500-hPa geopotential height field, sub-surface sea temperature field in the North Pacific, and the summer rainfall in China are further studied. Results show that the sub-surface ST in spring is an important factor linking the anterior and posterior atmospheric circulation. Atmospheric circulation in winter has a most remarkable influence on the ST in the North Pacific in spring, and the ST in spring also has persistent effects on atmospheric circulation for the corresponding period and the later summer. The interactions between atmospheric circulation and the sea surface, sub-surface temperature anomalies respectively lead to the opposite anomalous pattern of precipitation for the Yangtze River basin with North China and South China in summer.