What Is the Ekman Spiral Depth & Ocean Transport Calculator?
In 1905, V. Walfrid Ekman solved the balance between wind stress, Coriolis force, and turbulent friction in the upper ocean.
Surface currents deflect 45° from the wind (to the right in the NH, left in the SH), turning clockwise and decaying exponentially with depth.
How Does the Ekman Spiral Depth & Ocean Transport Calculator Work?
The Ekman depth DE is the depth where the current direction becomes exactly opposite to the surface velocity.
When integrated from surface to depth, net water transport ME is directed exactly 90° to the right of wind in the Northern Hemisphere.
Ekman Spiral Depth & Ocean Transport Calculator Formula & Variables
The core mathematical equation utilized by this calculator is expressed as:
Classic Ekman boundary layer depth and depth-integrated volume transport.
How to Use the Ekman Spiral Depth & Ocean Transport Calculator
- Enter wind speed, latitude, and eddy viscosity.
- Review Ekman depth, surface current speed, and net volume transport direction.
Step-by-Step Example Calculation
Mid-Latitude Ocean Wind Transport
Input Values:
Understanding Your Result
Coastal winds blowing parallel to a coastline produce offshore Ekman transport, driving nutrient-rich coastal upwelling.
Factors That Affect the Result
- Coriolis parameter approaches zero near the equator, making the classic Ekman depth singular at φ = 0.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Oceanographic modeling, coastal upwelling prediction, marine oil spill tracking, and climate studies.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes infinitely deep ocean with constant eddy viscosity and steady wind forcing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Calculation Accuracy & Reference Note
Standard geophysical fluid dynamics analytical solution.