Where and how the East Madagascar Current retroflection originates?

In-situ and remote sensing data are used to identify three states of the East Madagascar Current (EMC) southern extension: Early-Retroflection, Canonical-Retroflection and No Retroflection. Retroflections occur 47% of the time. EMC strength regulates the retroflection state, although impinged mesoscale eddies also contribute to the retroflection formation. The Early-Retroflection is linked with the EMC volume transport. Anticyclonic eddies drifting from the central Indian Ocean to the coast favour Early-Retroflection formation, anticyclonic eddies near the southern tip of Madagascar promote the generation of Canonical Retroflection, and No-Retroflection appears to be associated with a lower Eddy Kinetic Energy (EKE). Knowledge of the EMC retroflection state could help predicting: (1) coastal upwelling South of Madagascar, (2) the South-East Madagascar phytoplankton bloom, (3) the formation of South Indian Ocean Counter Current (SICC).