Vagn Walfrid Ekman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vagn Walfrid Ekman
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Vagn Walfrid Ekman
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| Born | 3 May 1874 |
| Died | 9 March 1954 (aged 79) Gostad
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| Nationality | Swedish |
| Alma mater | Uppsala University |
| Known for | Geophysical fluid dynamics Ocean dynamics Physical oceanography Polar meteorology Ekman current meter Ekman layer Ekman number Ekman spiral Ekman transport Ekman velocity Ekman water bottle |
| Awards | Alexander Agassiz Medal (1928) Vega Medal (1939) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geophysics Oceanography |
Vagn Walfrid Ekman (born May 3, 1874, died March 9, 1954) was a Swedish scientist who studied the ocean. He was an oceanographer.
Vagn was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His father, Fredrik Laurentz Ekman, was also an oceanographer. Vagn became very interested in studying the ocean while he was learning physics at the Uppsala University. He was especially inspired by lectures from Vilhelm Bjerknes about how liquids and gases move (called fluid dynamics).
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Solving Ocean Mysteries
Vagn Ekman became famous for explaining a strange thing that happens in the ocean. During an expedition, explorer Fridtjof Nansen noticed something odd. He saw that icebergs did not drift in the same direction as the wind. Instead, they moved at an angle of 20 to 40 degrees to the right of the wind.
Vilhelm Bjerknes, Vagn's professor, asked Vagn to figure out why this was happening. Vagn was still a student at the time.
The Ekman Spiral
In 1905, Vagn Ekman published his theory about the Ekman spiral. This theory explains why icebergs and ocean currents move at an angle to the wind. It's all about a balance between two forces:
- Friction: This is the drag or resistance from the wind pushing on the water.
- Coriolis force: This is a special force that affects moving objects on a spinning planet like Earth. It makes things in the Northern Hemisphere curve to the right.
Vagn showed that the wind pushes the very top layer of the ocean. This top layer then pulls on the layer below it, and so on. But because of the Coriolis force, each layer of water moves a little more to the right than the layer above it. If you imagine looking down from above, this creates a spiral shape, which is why it's called the Ekman spiral.
Tools for Ocean Study
After finishing his doctorate degree in 1902, Vagn Ekman joined the International Laboratory for Oceanographic Research in Oslo. He worked there for seven years. During this time, he not only continued his studies but also created new tools.
Ekman Current Meter
One important tool he invented was the Ekman current meter. This device helps scientists measure how fast and in what direction ocean currents are moving. It's still used today in some forms.
Ekman Water Bottle
He also developed the Ekman water bottle. This tool allows scientists to collect water samples from different depths in the ocean. This helps them study the ocean's temperature, saltiness, and other properties.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1910 to 1939, Vagn Ekman worked as a professor at the University of Lund. He taught mechanics and mathematical physics. He continued his important work on ocean currents and developed new ways to study them. In 1935, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Besides his scientific work, Vagn Ekman was also a talented musician. He was a good bass singer, played the piano, and even wrote music. He kept working on his scientific studies right up until he passed away in Gostad, near Stockaryd, Sweden. His ideas and inventions greatly helped us understand how the ocean works.
