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Show by a qualitative argument that, because of the rotation of the Earth, a wind in the northern hemisphere blowing from north to south will be deflected to the right. What about a wind that is blowing from south to north? What is the situation in the southern hemisphere?

Show by a qualitative argument that, because of the rotation of the Earth, a wind in the northern hemisphere blowing from north to south will be deflected to the right. What about a wind that is blowing from south to north? What is the situation in the southern hemisphere?

Grade:11

1 Answers

Kevin Nash
askIITians Faculty 332 Points
8 years ago
Consider that the observer is in the northern hemisphere and see the wind blowing to a point say P on the Equator, rotating counter-clockwise. To the observer, the wind would appear to be deflected from a straight line and would curve to the right, eventually missing its target point P on Equator.
Similarly, if the wind is coming from the equator to the observer in northern hemisphere, the wind will appear to be deflected and curve to the left of the observer.
Now consider that the observer has moved to the Southern hemisphere, and see the wind blowing from the South Pole to the point P on equator, rotating clockwise. To the observer, the wind from the South Pole would not reach the point P and rather curve to the right of that point.
Similarly, if the wind is blowing from the equator to the south in southern Hemisphere, the wind will appear (to observer) to be deflected to the left following a curved path.

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