Vilhelm Friman Koren Bjerknes (1862-1951) was a pioneering Norwegian physicist and meteorologist widely recognized as one of the founders of modern weather forecasting. Born in Christiania, Norway, he demonstrated exceptional scientific aptitude from an early age, assisting his father Carl Anton Bjerknes in hydrodynamic research during his formative years. He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Kristiania in 1888 before pursuing advanced studies in Paris and Bonn, where he worked as a scientific collaborator with the eminent physicist Heinrich Hertz. Bjerknes held prestigious academic positions at the University of Stockholm, served as director of the Leipzig Geophysical Institute, and ultimately, in 1917, founded the Geophysical Institute in Bergen, which later became part of the University of Bergen upon the university’s establishment in 1946, where he conducted his most influential work.
Bjerknes revolutionized atmospheric science through his formulation of the primitive equations that remain fundamental to numerical weather prediction and climate modeling today. His groundbreaking research between 1919 and 1921 established the polar front theory, defining the boundaries between warm and cold air masses as atmospheric fronts that explain extratropical cyclone formation and behavior. By applying hydrodynamical principles to meteorology, he created the first mathematical framework capable of systematic weather prediction, transforming the field from empirical observation to scientific forecasting. The Bergen School of Meteorology he founded became internationally renowned for advancing cyclone theory and improving forecast accuracy, with his seminal 1921 work On the Dynamics of the Circular Vortex establishing the theoretical foundation for modern meteorological analysis.
Bjerknes' innovative approach to weather forecasting fundamentally reshaped atmospheric science, establishing methodologies that continue to underpin contemporary meteorological practices more than a century later. His mathematical theories anticipated computational weather prediction decades before computer technology made it feasible, demonstrating remarkable foresight regarding applications as early as 1904. As a mentor, he trained his son Jacob Bjerknes who became a distinguished meteorologist continuing his father's legacy in atmospheric research. His contributions have been honored with the Symons Gold Medal, Fridtjof Nansen Prize, and election as Fellow of the Royal Society, while his enduring legacy is further recognized through lunar and Martian craters named in his honor, cementing his status as one of history's most influential figures in meteorological science.
