Vagn Walfrid Ekman

Vagn Walfrid Ekman was a Swedish oceanographer known for his work on the movement of water in the ocean. He discovered the "Ekman spiral," which describes how surface winds cause the upper layers of ocean water to move at an angle to the wind direction, creating a spiral pattern with depth. This understanding is crucial for predicting ocean currents and how pollutants, nutrients, and heat are transported in marine environments. Ekman’s work has been fundamental in physical oceanography, helping scientists better understand the dynamic interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean.