Ekman depth: D_E = √(2·ν/f)

Layer 1 — Physicsin the ocean-physics subtree

The Ekman depth D_E = √(2·ν/f) is the e-folding decay scale of wind-driven surface currents in a rotating viscous fluid, derived by Ekman (1905) in his thesis inspired by Nansen's Fram-expedition observation that drifting sea ice moves…

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