What is the Coriolis effect? What impact does it have on global circulation? Be specific


· The Coriolis effect is the deflection of moving air and water masses. This is the result of the eastward rotation of the Earth.
· In the Northern Hemisphere, moving objects move clockwise from its initial trajectory. The Southern Hemisphere's deflection occurs to the left of counterclockwise. The observed deflection is the result of an observers moving frame of reference on the already spinning Earth.
· The Coriolis effect is at different rates along different latitudes. Remember the Buffalo and Quinto example. Buffalo moves slower than Quinto to maintain the same directional position. It is dependent on the frame of reference.
· The Coriolis effect deflects ocean and atmospheric movements. This shifting allows doe global circulation of the different air density masses from the uneven solar heating of the Earth. The most visible effect is at mid-latitudes where there is a frictionless flow of fluids.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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