Gilbert Walker Created 2026-10-25 Updated 2026-11-05
Gilbert Walker used correlations among atmospheric observations to identify large-scale relationships, notably the opposed tropical pressure variations called the Southern Oscillation.[ref]
The Walker circulation is named in his honour, but a pressure index and a circulation mechanism are different objects. Correlation identifies a recurring pattern; interpreting it requires the coupled physics of trade winds, ocean temperature and atmospheric motion. That distinction remains useful when a climate index is used for prediction.