Not what I initially expected this article to be about, but I do love this kind of cross-cutting research that takes ideas from one field and applies them to a seemingly entirely different field. (Also makes me wish I’d been able to take a topology class at some point.)
I wouldn’t say that he is the leading authority, but he is a well known researcher in atmospheric and ocean sciences. His book is the go to book for graduate studies in the subject, so he is well versed in the topic.