Question

How does the Coriolis effect impact ocean currents in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

Answer 1

• The Coriolis effect describes the pattern of deflection taken by objects not firmly connected to the ground as they travel long distances around the Earth.
• The key to the Coriolis effect lies in Earth’s rotation. Specifically, Earth rotates faster at the Equator than it does at the poles. Earth is wider at the Equator, s

• The Coriolis effect bends the direction of surface currents to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Let’s pretend you’re standing at the Equator and you want to throw a ball to your friend in the middle of North America. If you throw the ball in a straight line, it will appear to land to the right of your friend because he’s moving slower and has not caught up.

 

• Now let’s pretend you’re standing at the North Pole. When you throw the ball to your friend, it will again to appear to land to the right of him. But this time, it’s because he’s moving faster than you are and has moved ahead of the ball.

• Everywhere you play global-scale "catch" in the Northern Hemisphere, the ball will deflect to the right.