The Coriolis Force

Since the globe is rotating, any movement on

the Northern hemisphere is diverted to the
right, if we look at it from our own position
on the ground. (In the southern hemisphere it
is bent to the left). This apparent bending
force is known as the Coriolis force. (Named
after the French mathematician Gustave
Gaspard Coriolis 1792-1843).
It may not be obvious to you that a particle
moving on the northern hemisphere will be
bending towards the right.

Consider this red cone moving

southward in the direction of the tip
of the cone. The earth is spinning,
while we watch the spectacle from a
camera fixed in outer space. The
cone is moving straight towards the
south.

Note that the red cone is veering in

a curve towards the right as it
moves. The reason why it is not
following the direction in which the
cone is pointing is, of course, that
we as observers are rotating along
with the globe.

Here we show the same image with

the camera locked on to the globe.

Here we show the same image,with

the camera fixed in outer space,
while the earth rotates.

The Coriolis force is a visible phenomenon. Railroad tracks wear

out faster on one side than the other. River beds are dug deeper on
one side than the other. (Which side depends on which hemisphere
we are in: In the Northern hemisphere moving particles are bent
towards the right).
In the Northern hemisphere the wind tends to rotate
counterclockwise (as seen from above) as it approaches a low
pressure area. In the Southern hemisphere the wind rotates
clockwise around low pressure areas.
On the next page we shall see how the Coriolis force affects the
wind directions on the globe.

© Copyright 1997-2003 Danish Wind Industry Association

Updated 1 June 2003
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/coriolis.htm