Klaus Wyrtki
Encyclopedia
Klaus Wyrtki is an American physical oceanographer
.
Born on February 7, 1925 in Tarnowitz, Upper Silesia
, Poland
, he attended the University of Marburg in Germany
, in 1945-1948, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Kiel
in 1950. He was a professor at Scripps Institute of Oceanography until 1964, when he became a member of the faculty of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Since 1992 he has been an emeritus professor.
Among other things, Wyrtki is known for his work on understanding and forecasting El Nino. He established a tidal gauge network, gave an explanation for the Pacific oxygen minimum zone
under the thermocline
, and discovered the ocean current jet that now bears his name, the "Wyrtki Jet". He is also known for his work on thermohaline circulation
by the American Meteorological Society
, for "outstanding contributions to the dynamics of ocean currents, especially the Gulf Stream". In 2003, Wyrtki was awarded the Prince Albert I Medal
. In 2004, he was awarded the Alexander Agassiz Medal
, for "for fundamental contributions to the understanding of the oceanic general circulation of abyssal and thermocline waters and for providing the intellectual underpinning for our understanding of ENSO (El Niño)". In 2007, he was elected a Fellow
of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. One of the Research Vessel
s at UH is named in his honor.
Physical oceanography
Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters.Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is divided...
.
Born on February 7, 1925 in Tarnowitz, Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, he attended the University of Marburg in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1945-1948, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Kiel
University of Kiel
The University of Kiel is a university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 23,000 students today...
in 1950. He was a professor at Scripps Institute of Oceanography until 1964, when he became a member of the faculty of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Since 1992 he has been an emeritus professor.
Among other things, Wyrtki is known for his work on understanding and forecasting El Nino. He established a tidal gauge network, gave an explanation for the Pacific oxygen minimum zone
Oxygen minimum zone
The Oxygen minimum zone , sometimes referred to as the shadow zone, is the zone in which oxygen saturation in seawater in the ocean is at its lowest. This zone occurs at depths of about 200 to 1,000 metres, depending on local circumstances....
under the thermocline
Thermocline
A thermocline is a thin but distinct layer in a large body of fluid , in which temperature changes more rapidly with depth than it does in the layers above or below...
, and discovered the ocean current jet that now bears his name, the "Wyrtki Jet". He is also known for his work on thermohaline circulation
Thermohaline circulation
The term thermohaline circulation refers to a part of the large-scale ocean circulation that is driven by global density gradients created by surface heat and freshwater fluxes....
Awards and honors
In 1991, Wyrtki was awarded the Sverdrup Gold Medal AwardSverdrup Gold Medal Award
Sverdrup Gold Medal Award - is the American Meteorological Society's award granted to researchers who make outstanding contributions to the scientific knowledge of interactions between the oceans and the atmosphere.-Recipients:...
by the American Meteorological Society
American Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
, for "outstanding contributions to the dynamics of ocean currents, especially the Gulf Stream". In 2003, Wyrtki was awarded the Prince Albert I Medal
Prince Albert I Medal
The Prince Albert I Medal was established by Prince Rainier of Monaco in partnership with the International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans. The medal was named for Prince Albert I and is given for significant work in the physical and chemical sciences of the oceans...
. In 2004, he was awarded the Alexander Agassiz Medal
Alexander Agassiz Medal
The Alexander Agassiz Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for an original contribution in the science of oceanography. It was established by Sir John Murray in honor of his friend Alexander Agassiz.-Recipients:-References:NotesA...
, for "for fundamental contributions to the understanding of the oceanic general circulation of abyssal and thermocline waters and for providing the intellectual underpinning for our understanding of ENSO (El Niño)". In 2007, he was elected a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. One of the Research Vessel
Research vessel
A research vessel is a ship designed and equipped to carry out research at sea. Research vessels carry out a number of roles. Some of these roles can be combined into a single vessel, others require a dedicated vessel...
s at UH is named in his honor.