Abstract: Surface wave plays an important role in affecting sea surface temperature. The wave field has complex seasonal variations due to the monsoon in the Indian Ocean. Reanalysis data of monthly mean wave parameters, sea surface temperature and surface Stokes drift in recent 40 years released by ECMWF-ERA5 and the EOF and correlation analysis are used to analyze the relationship between the surface Stokes drift and the IOD events. Firstly, the spatial distribution characteristics of wind waves and swells in the Indian Ocean are analyzed, and the results show that the significant wave height and mean wave direction of the wind waves and swells in the Arabian Sea are affected by the monsoon and exhibit significant seasonal variation. The spatial distribution of zonal surface Stokes drift is similar to that of wind waves, and both are greatly affected by wind bands, while the meridional surface Stokes drift exhibits strengthening along the east boundary. The relationship between the zonal Stokes drift and the IOD events is further investigated, and correlation coefficient between them can reach about −0.8. When +IOD events or −IOD events happen, or SST anomalies occur in the tropical Indian Ocean, the wave transport induced by the zonal Stokes drift always drives abnormal cold water to warmer region, playing an important role in regulating the SST in tropical Indian Ocean. Therefore, the zonal Stokes drift can accelerate the decaying of the IOD event by inducing the east-west water transport.