ESS124
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Coriolis Force
UA
UB
q First, Point A rotates faster than Point B (UA > UB)
è UA > UB
è A northward motion starting at A will arrive
to the east of B
è It looks like there is a “force” pushing the
northward motion toward right
è This apparent force is called “Coriolis force”:
Coriolis Force = f V
where f = 2*W*Sin(lat) and W=7.292x10-5 rad s-1
(from The
Earth System)