Question

What is the Coriolis force? Describe briefly its effect on the climate of the world.

Answer 1

• Coriolis force is caused by rotation of earth
• This force is responsible for deflecting winds towards right in Northern hemisphere and towards left in Southern hemisphere
• This is also known as Ferrel’s Law as William Ferrel proposed the existence of circulation cell in the mid – latitudes with air being deflected due to Coriolis force in order to create westerly winds
• The pressure and wind conditions of India are unique
• During winter, there is high pressure area in North of Himalayas
• Cold dry winds blow from this region to low pressure zone on oceans in South
• In summer, low pressure area develops over interior of Asia and also in North West India
• Thus it causes a reversal of wind system in summer
• Air moves from high pressure area over South Indian ocean and crosses the Equator
• These winds bring South west monsoon winds which blow over the warm oceans
• They gather moisture and bring widespread rainfall to the mainland of India
• This is the effect of Coriolis force in India and hence, due to it India is not a dry land