A term in the relative hydrodynamic equations of motion that takes into account the effect of the Earth's rotation on moving objects (including air and water) when viewed with reference to a coordinate system attached to the rotating Earth. The horizontal component is directed 90° to the right (when looking in the direction of motion) in the Northern Hemisphere and 90° to the left in the Southern. The horizontal component is zero along the Equator; also, when the object is at rest relative to the Earth. The Coriolis acceleration = 2vU sin ø : where v is the speed of the object, U is the angular velocity of the Earth, and ø is the latitude. Named for Gaspard Gustave de Coriolis who published his formulation in 1835.

In meteorology, a deflecting force acting on a body in motion and resulting from the earth's rotation. It deflects air currents to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere, thus having an effect on wind direction.

An apparent force exerted on moving objects due to the earth's rotation.

An imaginary ('fictitious') force, which can be used to explain the Coriolis effect, if one wishes to ignore the rotation which actually causes that effect. The horizontal component of the Coriolis force produces the Coriolis effect, while the vertical component produces the flattening or oblateness predicted for rotating objects, by Newton.

(physics) a force due to the earth's rotation; acts on a body in motion (airplane or projectile) in a rotating reference frame; in a rotating frame of reference Newton's second law of motion can be made to apply if in addition to the real forces acting on a body a Coriolis force and a centrifugal force are introduced

the `pseudo-force' on an object moving with respect to a rotating frame of reference. A cannon shell appears to veer left in the southern hemisphere, and right in the northern hemisphere.

An apparent force due to the rotation of the earth that causes a deflection of air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This force maximizes at the poles and is essentially zero at the equator.

A force which must be included in the calculation of motion in a rotating frame of reference, if the body moves in such a way that its rotation velocity changes. In general, it tends to preserve that part of its velocity. The Coriolis force is responsible for the swirling of hurricanes and large weather systems--for air flowing into a region of low pressure, counterclockwise north of the equator, clockwise south of the equator (reverse directions for air flowing out of a high pressure region). See centrifugal force.

Force that arises when air moves with respect to the rotating Earth. It causes the wind to turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. There is no Coriolis force at the equator.

an apparent force that as a result of the earth's rotation deflects objects moving above the earth's surface to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

An apparent force on moving particles when measured relative to a rotating coordinate system; the force is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and is proportional to 2 O sin(y) where O is Earth's angular velocity and y is latitude.

An apparent force caused by the rotation of the Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere winds are deflected to the right, and in the Southern Hemisphere to the left.

A result of centripetal force on a mass moving with a velocity radially outward in a rotating plane.

The force that occurs when a mass has a velocity moving outward in a rotating plane.

Apparent effect of the earth's rotation tending to turn the direction of any object or fluid toward the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The Coriolis Force gives a tropical cyclone its spin. Without it, tropical cyclones would not form. Show Diagram

an apparent force acting on a fluid (air or water) in motion on the rotating Earth. It causes the fluid to turn to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. There is no Coriolis effect at the Equator. Fluorescence

A fictional source associated with the earth's rotation. It results in the deflection of all objects not at the equator to the right in the direction of motion in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. [Crutzen, Paul and Gradel, T.E. Atmospheric Change: An Earth System Perspective. W.H Freedman and Company, New York. 1993. p.57.

An apparent force that makes moving objects deflect to the right of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Coriolis force is the force that results from the rotation of the Earth around its axis; it makes storms rotate counterclockwise in the Northern and clockwise in the Southern Hemispheres. The French engineer/mathematician Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis discovered this force in 1835. This force has effects on water currents, but has no effect on the direction of water going down a drain.

An effect caused by the Earth's rotation, which causes winds and currents to follow a curved path across the Earth's surface - to the right (clockwise) in the northern hemisphere, to the left (anti-clockwise) in the southern hemisphere.