What Is Coriolis Effect?
The way the Earth's spin makes moving air curve, to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern. It is why storms spin. In technical terms: The apparent deflection of moving objects in a rotating reference frame, with acceleration minus f times k cross V where f = 2 Omega sin latitude (about 1e-4 per second at midlatitudes).
Also called: Coriolis Force
Coriolis Effect In Plain English
The way the Earth's spin makes moving air curve, to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern. It is why storms spin.
The Technical Definition
The apparent deflection of moving objects in a rotating reference frame, with acceleration minus f times k cross V where f = 2 Omega sin latitude (about 1e-4 per second at midlatitudes); zero at the equator, important for motions lasting hours or longer.
Lessons That Use Coriolis Effect
- What Makes The Wind Blow: Pressure Gradient And Coriolis Unit 3: Wind And Pressure Systems
- How Hurricanes Form Unit 10: Tropical Cyclones
- How Computer Forecast Models Work Unit 14: Forecast Models
