The Indian Monsoon Current refers to the seasonally varying ocean current regime found in

the tropical regions of the northern Indian Ocean. During winter, the flow of the upper ocean is
directed westward from near the Indonesian Archipelago to the Arabian Sea. During the summer, the
direction reverses, with eastward flow extending from Somaliainto the Bay of Bengal. These
variations are due to changes in the wind stress associated with the Indian monsoon. The
seasonally reversing open ocean currents that pass south of India are referred to as the Winter
Monsoon Current and the Summer Monsoon Current (alternately, the Northeast Monsoon Current
and the Southwest Monsoon Current).[1]The Somali Current, which is strongly linked to the Indian
monsoon, is also discussed in this article.

Contents

1 Overview

o 1.1 Historical perspective

o 1.2 Atmospheric forcing

2 Structure and evolution

o 2.1 Winter season structure

o 2.2 Summer season structure

o 2.3 Evolution

3 See also

4 References

Overview[edit]
Historical perspective[edit]
Although Mariners have been aware of the existence of the Monsoon current for nearly one
thousand years, a detailed understanding did not emerge until after the International Indian Ocean
Expedition of the 1960s.[1] The World Ocean Circulation Experiment of the mid 1990s permitted
detailed measurement of these currents through an extensive field campaign. [2]

Atmospheric forcing[edit]
In the northern hemisphere tropical regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, surface winds blow
predominantly from the northeast year round, with westward-flowing ocean currents underneath. The
Indian Ocean differs from the Atlantic and Pacific in that a continental landmass forms a complete
northern boundary at relatively low latitudes. Monsoonal circulations are driven by the differences in
temperature between land masses and adjacent oceans.[3] Because water has a larger thermal
capacity than air, land surfaces will heat more rapidly during the summer season. The Indian
monsoon consists of two phases. During the northern hemisphere winter, the cool Asian landmass
contains a broad area of high pressure, whereas lower pressures prevail over the warmer Indian
ocean and hot Australian continent. This pressure pattern helps to reinforce the northeasterly trade
winds. During the northern hemisphere summer, the Asian landmass (especially the Indian
subcontinent) heats considerably, generating an area of low pressure to the north. Circulation about
this low generates strong winds from the southwest over the Arabian Sea and along the Somali
coast. These winds are enhanced by the formation of an atmospheric western boundary current
created by the high terrain over eastern Africa.

A consequence of the Coriolis effect, Ekman theory explains that oceanic flow at the surface is
directed at 45 degrees to the right of the wind stress in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, winds
blowing from the southwest result in eastward currents, while winds blowing from the northeast
result in westward currents.

Structure and evolution[edit]

Winter season structure[edit]
The Winter Monsoon Current extends from the Bay of Bengal, around India and Sri Lanka, and
across the Arabian Sea at a latitude of approximately 8 degrees North. Currents flow to the
southwest along the coast of Somalia to the equator.

Measurements of the strengths of these currents have been obtained from ship drift records. The
Northeast Monsoon Current is westward only during the months of January through March, and is
strongest in February when it reaches 50 cm s1.[4] Estimates of westward volume transport range
from 7 to 14 Sverdrups.[1]

Summer season structure[edit]

The Somali Current, which describes the flow along the Horn of Africa from the equator to around 9
degrees north,[5] also shifts direction seasonally with the monsoon winds. It eventually separates
from the coastline, turning to the right as it enters the Arabian Sea. The Summer Monsoon Current,
located between 10 and 15 North latitude in the Arabian Sea, bends around India and Sri Lanka, and
enters the Bay of Bengal. The Great Whirl is a gyre located around 10 N and 55 E, and is only
present during the summer season.

During the summer when the current flows toward the northeast, Ekman transport (to the right of the
flow in the Northern Hemisphere) is offshore, transporting warmer waters deeper into the Arabian
sea, and permitting upwelling of cooler waters along the coast. This sea surface temperature pattern
(cooler waters west of warmer waters) reinforces the northward current through geostrophic flow.
The Southwest Monsoon Current is eastward from April through November, and reaches a peak
intensity of 30 cm s1 during the summer months.[4] During a 1995 field campaign, the Somali current
was measured to transport 37 +/- 5 Sv during mid-September.[6]

Evolution[edit]
The rapid initiation of seasonal currents (over the time period of several weeks) can be explained
theoretically in terms of linear theory with a Rossby wave response.[5] The Monsoon Current can also
be viewed in terms of local forcing processes that act in concert to create the mature, basin-wide
system.[1] The evolution of these currents have been reproduced in dynamical models of the ocean-
atmosphere system.[2]