V. Walfrid Ekman

V. Walfrid Ekman was a Swedish oceanographer known for discovering the "Ekman spiral" and "Ekman transport," which explain how ocean currents move due to wind. When the wind blows across the ocean surface, it pushes the water, but factors like Earth's rotation cause the currents to turn at different depths, creating a spiral pattern. This understanding helps explain phenomena like upwelling, where nutrient-rich waters rise, supporting diverse marine life. Ekman's work is fundamental in physical oceanography, linking wind patterns to movement of seawater and climate processes.