Cold Currents in the Northern Indian Ocean: The Somali Current Exists

The premise is false: a cold current does exist in the northern Indian Ocean — the Somali Current.

The Somali Current

• Location: Flows along the coasts of Somalia and Oman (northwestern Indian Ocean).
• Seasonality: Southwest Monsoon (Jun–Sep): Strong northeastward flow (up to 3–4 knots / 1.5–2 m/s) — one of world's fastest currents. Driven by Findlater Jet (low-level wind jet).
• Upwelling: Ekman transport pulls deep, cold, nutrient-rich water to surface → massive productivity (phytoplankton → sardines, tuna, whales).
• Northeast Monsoon (Dec–Mar): Reverses to southwestward flow (weaker), feeding the Equatorial Countercurrent.

Why It's Unique

• Only major western boundary current that reverses seasonally (monsoon-driven).
• No permanent subtropical gyre in N. Indian Ocean (blocked by Asia) → no steady western boundary current like Gulf Stream/Kuroshio.
• Great Whirl: Large anticyclonic eddy (300 km) forms off Somalia during SW monsoon — traps cold upwelled water.

Other Northern Indian Ocean Currents

• East Arabian Current: Northward along India's west coast (SW monsoon).
• West India Coastal Current: Reverses seasonally.
• Equatorial Jets (Wyrtki Jets): Eastward pulses (Apr/May, Oct/Nov) along equator.

The northern Indian Ocean is a monsoon-dominated, seasonally reversing current system — not a void of cold water. The Somali Current is its most dramatic expression.