1862-1951

Norwegian Geophysicist, Meteorologist, and Physicist

Vilhelm Bjerknes made seminal contributions to the foundation of dynamic meteorology as a mathematically exact modern science with his theory of "physical hydrodynamics," while expanding practical meteorology with the development of synoptic meteorology and formula-based weather forecasting techniques. He also made important contributions to electrodynamic theory.

Bjerknes showed early signs of true genius as a youth already assisting his father, Carl Bjerknes (1825-1903), a physics teacher, with his theories on hydrodynamic forces and their similarities to electrodynamic forces. Vilhelm's formal training started with studies in mathematics and physics at the University of Kristiania (later Oslo) in 1880. Completing his masters degree (1887), he studied at Paris under physicist Jules-Henri Poincaré (1854-1912) on a state fellowship and went on to Bonn in 1890, becoming an assistant to and collaborator with Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) in electrodynamic research. Bjerknes contributed resonance experimental...