This is a photograph of Vagn Ekman, Swedish oceanographer, 1874-1954.
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Vagn Walfrid Ekman

Vagn Walfrid Ekman was born in Sweden on May 3, 1874. He was an oceanographer. His dad was an oceanographer too. I guess you could say the love of the ocean ran in the family!

Ekman is best known for studying how the Coriolis force affects ocean currents. Ekman has several important oceanography ideas named after him including the Ekman spiral, Ekman layer and Ekman transport.

He also invented several important instruments and some of his inventions are still in use today.

Did you know scientists have other interests besides science? Ekman was very interested in music. He was known to be a very good singer and piano player.

He passed away on March 9, 1954.

Last modified September 10, 2008 by Jennifer Bergman.

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