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Nils Daniel Bang

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Nils Daniel Bang (13 September, 1941 - 2 December, 1977) was a [African] oceanographic scientist who first used the term retroflection[1][2], meaning "to turn back on itself", to describe the way the Agulhas Current, which runs down the east coast of [[1]], turns abruptly[3] back on itself in a hairpin bend. After taking part in a series of research trips along the length of the current in 1969 aboard the [of Cape Town's] research vessel, the Thomas B. Davie and analysing the data that was collected, Bang sought a way to describe the fitful nature of the current's flow and chose the word retroflection, more commonly used to describe the way intestines turn back on themselves. In the field of physical oceanography, Bang was considered a pioneer who, with Bill Andrews and Larry Hutchings, his counterparts in biological oceanography, produced work that was "universally acclaimed"[4]


  1. ^ The Agulhas Current retroflection (2007), Related Papers, South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (SA MOC) workshops, Physical Oceanography Division (PhOD), Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory National Oceanic & Atmostpheric Administration. South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation workshop related papers
  2. ^ Bang, N. D. and F. C. Pearce (1970) Hydrological data. Agulhas Current Project, March 1969. Institute of Oceanography, University of Cape Town. Data Report No.4, 26pp.
  3. ^ Bennett, Sara L (1988). Where Three Oceans Meet: The Agulhas Retroflection Region. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  4. ^ Gotthilf Hempel, Michael O’Toole and Neville Sweijd (editors)(2008). Benguela: Current of Plenty, A history of international cooperation in marine science and ecosystem management, Benguela Current Commission. ISBN 978-0-620-42211-6. p26