A linear modulation of the primordial perturbations is proposed as an
explanation for the observed asymmetry between the northern and southern
hemispheres of the WMAP data. A cut sky, reduced resolution third year
"Internal Linear Combination" (ILC) map was used to estimate the
modulation parameters. A foreground template and a modulated plus
unmodulated monopole and dipole were projected out of the likelihood.
The effective chi squared is reduced by nine for three extra parameters.
The mean Galactic colatitude and longitude, of the modulation, with 68%,
95% and 99.7% confidence intervals were 56^{+17 +36 +65}_{-17 -35 -51}
and 63^{+28 +59 +105}_{-26 -58 -213}. The mean percentage change of the
variance, across the pole's of the modulation, was 62^{+18 +35 +57}_{-18
-35 -47}. Implications of these results and possible generating
mechanisms will be discussed.