Renowned Oceanographer Walter Munk to Receive Crafoord Prize

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego scientist Walter Munk, often referred to as the world's 'greatest living oceanographer,? added to a long list of career honors today when the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced his receipt of the Crafoord Prize, which is given each spring to researchers who have made major advancements in their branches of science. The academy recognized Munk 'for his pioneering and fundamental contributions to our understanding of ocean circulation, tides and waves, and their role in the Earth's dynamics. In its citation, the academy noted Munk's contributions to several areas of oceanography, but especially to the understanding of circulation and tides: - 'The great adventure of exploring the world's oceans took place largely in the latter half of the 20th century, when new technology and novel methods of remote analysis had become invaluable tools for oceanographers. This year's Crafoord Prize Laureate, Walter Munk, is a person who, in his work of explaining ocean circulation, tides and waves, and their role in our planet's dynamics, moved in the absolute forefront of science throughout this period. In particular, Munk's grasp of the tide's significance on various scales is crucial to his scientific oeuvre. Walter Munk has won awards ranging from the Kyoto Prize in 1999 to this replica of an ancient "surfboard" in 2007 from the Groundwell Society in honor of his pioneering research into ocean waves. The prize committee also recognized Munk's contributions to other fields such as biology and astronomy that were not even fully appreciated until several decades after he performed his original work.