Science Fact Finder | Weather and Climate - What Is The Coriolis Effect?

What is the Coriolis effect?

The Coriolis effect is the apparent curvature of global winds, ocean currents, and anything else that moves freely across the Earth's surface, due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis. It was discovered by, and is named for, nineteenth century French engineer Gaspard C. Coriolis (1792-1843). Coriolis used mathematical formulas to explain that the path of any object set in motion above a rotating surface will curve in relation to objects on that surface.

If not for the spinning of the Earth, global winds would blow in straight north-south lines. In reality, global winds blow diagonally—for instance, from the northwest to the southeast. The Coriolis effect influences the direction of winds around the world as follows: In the Northern Hemisphere (the half of the Earth north of the equator), it curves them to the right; in the Southern Hemisphere (the area south of the equator) it curves them...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass