Ekman Spiral

Observing currents caused by wind
on a rotating system

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Water tank
Material: Acrylic board
Height: 10cm
Depth: 30cm
Width: 30cm

The whole tank was put inside a transparent acrylic cover and air currents were blown across it.6)

Working fluid
80% glycerin water solution.
The kinematic viscosity is approx. 0.6cm2/s .
 
Visualization
At the center of the water tank colored water was spouted in a thin stream directly down into the water, forming for an instant a line of colored water, making the current visible.
 
Experimental process
Colored water was spouted into the tank immediately after it had been spun up.