Where/when can we expect an improved skill from the knowledge of the SSTA?
Mo and Kalnay (1991) performed monthly integrations with the NMC global atmospheric model prescribing first climatological SSTs and then observed SST anomalies (fixed at the initial time). The comparison of skills showed that the prescription of SST anomalies

Then if were able to estimate the forcing direction in coupled anomalies we would be able to provide a priori regional skill.