If this turns out to be wreckage off MH370, then I would have thought it must follow that its point of recovery would be of crucial importance to the search efforts. It may result in a change of methodology from that based on the Inmarsat satellite data analysis to one with much greater emphasis on an analysis of Ocean surface currents in the Indian Ocean.
The first find, which has since been confirmed as belonging to MH370, was located on an island lying off the Eastern waters of Madagascar. This second find has been located off the Western waters of Madagascar. Both far North and West from the current search area.
"Indian Ocean Currents
Indian Ocean currents follow generally the pattern of the
Atlantic and Pacific but with differences caused principally
by the monsoons, the more limited extent of water in the
Northern Hemisphere, and by limited communication with
the Pacific Ocean along the eastern boundary. During the
northern hemisphere winter, the North Equatorial Current
and South Equatorial Current flow toward the west, with
the weaker, eastward Equatorial Counter current flowing
between them, as in the Atlantic and Pacific (but somewhat
south of the equator). But during the northern hemisphere
summer, both the North Equatorial Current and the
Equatorial Counter current are replaced by the South west
Monsoon Current, which flows eastward and
south eastward across the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
Near Sumatra, this current curves in a clockwise direction
and flows westward, augmenting the South Equatorial
Current, and setting up a clockwise circulation in the
northern part of the Indian Ocean. Off the coast of Somalia,
the Somali Current reverses direction during the northern
hemisphere summer with northward currents reaching
speeds of 5 knots or more. Twice a year, around May and
November, westerly winds along the equator result in an
eastward Equatorial Jet which feeds warm water towards
Sumatra.
As the South Equatorial Current approaches the coast of
Africa, it curves toward the southwest, part of it flowing
through the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and
the mainland, and part flowing along the east coast of
Madagascar. At the southern end of this island the two join
to form the strong Agulhas Current, which is analogous to
the Gulf Stream. This current, when opposed by strong
winds from Southern Ocean storms, creates dangerously
large seas."
The full text of the above may be found at:
http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/St...N/Chapt-32.pdf
This may suggest a debris drift from North to South/South West. I cannot quite see how such a drift pattern would fit the current search location.