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The Earth's rotation produces cyclones and anticyclones through the Coriolis effect which causes large air-masses to rotate.

At the Equator a point at the surface moves at over 1000 mph as the Earth rotates. This speed is less and less for a point at gradually increasing latitude until it reaches zero at either pole.

Someone walking northwards from the equator has a slight force pushing them to the left because the speed of the ground decreases with increasing latitude and that force is necessary to provide the deceleration. For a single individual the force is too small to be detected, but for a large mass of air tending to move northwards it will move to the right because it is moving faster than the ground.

Similarly a mass of air moving towards the equator will tend to move to the right because the ground is picking up more speed and the air is not.

Both these effects induce a rotation in the air mass as it moves away from a high-pressure area, therefore a cyclone rotates clockwise (in the northern hemisphere). The opposite happens round a low-pressure area, where the air moves anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere.

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What is Windand what causes it?

Movement of air is caused by temperature or pressure differences and is ... This is due to the rotation of the Earth beneath the moving air, the natural perceptable movement of it is called wind


What are the factors that affect the air movement?

Factors that affect air movement include temperature differentials, pressure gradients, the Coriolis effect, friction, and the Earth's rotation. These factors influence the direction and speed of wind patterns globally and locally. Temperature variations create pressure differences that drive air movement, while the Coriolis effect and friction can deflect and slow down wind currents.


What force generates winds?

sintreificle force


What are causes of the movement of the Earth?

the wind creates a force acting onto the air, which in then pushes the air to move in the direction of hte applied force the wind creates a force acting onto the air, which in then pushes the air to move in the direction of hte applied force


Global winds are directly caused by the Earth's rotation and?

Global winds are directly caused by the Earth's rotation and the uneven heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. This heating creates variations in air pressure, leading to the movement of air from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. Additionally, the Coriolis effect, resulting from the Earth's rotation, influences the direction of wind patterns, causing them to curve rather than move in straight lines. Together, these factors create complex wind patterns that drive weather systems and ocean currents.

Related Questions

What causes winds to appear on earth's surface?

The difference in temperature in air causes movement as warm air rises and cold air sinks. The Earth's rotation also has a small affect.


What strongly affects the movement of air masses along the earth's surface?

The main factors that strongly affect the movement of air masses along the Earth's surface are temperature gradients, pressure systems (such as high and low-pressure areas), and the rotation of the Earth (Coriolis effect). Temperature differences drive the movement of air masses, while pressure systems and the Coriolis effect influence the direction and speed of their movement.


What affects the movement of air masses along the Earth's surface?

The differences in air pressure and the Earth's rotation.


What is responsible in the movement of air water caused by earths rotation is called?

The movement of air and water caused by Earth's rotation is known as the Coriolis effect. This effect is a result of the deflection of moving objects, such as air and water, due to the rotation of the Earth. It causes fluids to curve rather than moving in a straight line in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.


What are the air movement patterns on earth's surface called?

Air movement patterns on Earth's surface are called winds. Winds are created by the movement of air masses from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, influenced by factors such as temperature, pressure gradients, and the Earth's rotation.


What are the forces that affect the horizontal movement of air?

The main force that affects the horizontal movement of air is the pressure gradient force, which drives air from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. Other factors such as the Coriolis effect (due to Earth's rotation) and friction with the surface can also influence the direction and speed of horizontal air movement. These forces collectively contribute to the complex patterns of wind flow in Earth's atmosphere.


What is Windand what causes it?

Movement of air is caused by temperature or pressure differences and is ... This is due to the rotation of the Earth beneath the moving air, the natural perceptable movement of it is called wind


Why is Earth windy?

The rotation of the Earth has some affect. The difference in temperature is the main cause, with cold and warm temperatures moving the air about.


The best evidence that Earth rotates is provided by the?

movement of Foucault pendulums and the Coriolis effect on air movement


What do we call the effects of the earth's rotation on air circulation?

The effect of the Earth's rotation on air circulation is called the Coriolis Effect.


What factors control the movement of surface currents?

Air currents, earth's rotation and the location of the continents. <<< textbook source!


What is a movement of air close to eaths surface?

A movement of air close to Earth's surface is known as wind. Wind is caused by changes in air pressure and temperature, and it can be influenced by factors such as the topography of the land and the rotation of the Earth. Wind plays a crucial role in weather patterns and can vary in speed and direction.