What causes the coriolis effect?
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/crls.rxml
The rotation of the Earth
The Coriolis effect is caused by the rotation of the Earth. As the Earth spins on its axis, it affects the path of moving objects, such as air or water, causing them to veer to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
To understand how this works, you can imagine yourself standing at the equator and throwing a ball towards the North Pole. From your perspective, the ball would appear to travel in a straight line, while the Earth moves underneath it. However, to an observer hovering above the Earth, the ball's path would actually curve slightly to the right due to the Earth's rotation. This apparent deflection is the Coriolis effect.
The Coriolis effect is most noticeable in the atmosphere and oceans, influencing the flow of air currents and ocean currents around the world. It plays a crucial role in weather patterns and ocean circulation, impacting the distribution of heat around the planet.
To calculate the Coriolis effect, you can use the Coriolis force equation, which includes factors such as the rotation rate of the Earth, the velocity of the moving object, and the latitude at which the object is located. By plugging in these values, you can determine the magnitude and direction of the Coriolis effect for a particular situation.