Peter Niiler was a physical oceanographer who became world renowned for his many years' programme of developing and deploying a world-wide population of drifter bouys. He was, consequently, a world-class authority on ocean currents and contributed significant original and valuable knowledge to the field.

A short article about him.

He was Estonian by birth. The night before he died suddenly and unexpectedly, he was dancing and singing at home. Opera. In Estonian. Waving a large leaf from one of the many tropical trees in his courtyard. No, really! He was unique among men, a wag and a brilliant thinker. He was much loved.