Ekman layer

Imagine swimming in a pool and reaching the bottom with your hands. You notice that the water seems calm, but as you move your hands faster, the water starts moving too. This is because your hands are stirring up the water, creating a layer of water close to the bottom that behaves differently from the rest of the pool.

Now, imagine this on a much larger scale, say the ocean. Winds blowing over the ocean surface also create a layer of water close to the surface that behaves differently from the rest of the ocean. This layer is called the Ekman layer and it can extend down to around 100-200 meters deep.

The wind causes the surface water to move, which then drags on the layer just below it, causing it to move a bit slower. This in turn drags on the next layer and so on until you reach the bottom of the Ekman layer. This downward motion of water is called the Ekman spiral.

The Ekman layer is important because it plays a critical role in the movement of water and the transport of nutrients and heat throughout the ocean. It is also important for predicting weather patterns and understanding climate change. By studying the Ekman layer, oceanographers can better understand the complex interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean.