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Coriolis Force: How does the Earth's rotation modify the Wind?

Wind does not cross the isobars at right angles as the pressure-gradient force directs.

All free-moving objects, including wind, are deflected to the right of their path of motion in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left of their path of motion in the Southern Hemisphere.

The reason for this deflection is the Coriolis force:

where m is the mass and u is the velocity vector of a fluid parcel, and  is the rotation vector of the Earth.

The magnitude of the Coriolis force is:

where  is the latitude, f = 2 sin is called the Coriolis parameter, and u is the magnitude of the velocity.

The Coriolis force written in vector form clearly indicates that

It is directed at right angles to the direction of air flow.

It affects only wind direction, not the wind speed.

Its magnitude is affected by wind speed (the stronger the wind, the greater the deflecting force).

Its magnitude increases from zero at the Equator to a maximum at the poles.

The Coriolis force thus has the effect of deflecting air flow. It also has the effect of deflecting ocean currents.

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