A phenomenon caused by Earth's rotation that deflects moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Coriolis Effect

The Coriolis Effect is a fundamental force that appears to deflect moving objects when viewed from a rotating reference frame, most notably Earth's surface. Named after French physicist Gaspard-Gustave Coriolis, who described it mathematically in 1835, this phenomenon plays a crucial role in global weather patterns and ocean currents.

Physical Mechanism

The effect occurs because Earth rotates beneath moving objects, causing their path to appear curved relative to the surface. Key characteristics include:

Rightward deflection in the Northern Hemisphere
Leftward deflection in the Southern Hemisphere
No deflection at the equator
Maximum effect at the poles

Impact on Global Systems

Atmospheric Circulation

The Coriolis Effect significantly influences:

Formation of cyclones and anticyclones
Development of prevailing wind patterns
Creation of large-scale weather systems

Ocean Currents

Major impacts include:

Driving the formation of ocean gyres
Influencing thermohaline circulation
Affecting global heat distribution

Applications and Observations

The Coriolis Effect has practical implications in:

Military ballistics
satellite orbital calculations
meteorological forecasting
Long-range projectile motion

Common Misconceptions

Despite popular belief, the Coriolis Effect:

Is too weak to influence small-scale phenomena like toilet water rotation
Requires significant time and distance to be observable
Does not directly cause water vortex formation in sinks

Mathematical Description

The magnitude of the Coriolis acceleration (a_c) is given by:

a_c = 2v × ω

Where:

v is the velocity of the moving object
ω is the angular velocity of Earth's rotation

This effect is fundamental to understanding global fluid dynamics and large-scale atmospheric and oceanic movements, making it essential for modern climate science and weather prediction systems.