Winds bend
The rotating Earth turns the wind aside.
A straight line that curves
Air tries to blow straight from high pressure to low pressure. But the Earth under it is turning.
Will the wind follow a straight path on the rotating Earth?
What this lesson covers
The idea
The Earth's rotation deflects planetary winds from straight paths, to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, so they follow curved paths.
A straight line that curves
Air tries to blow straight from high pressure to low pressure. But the Earth under it is turning.
Will the wind follow a straight path on the rotating Earth?
- No, it follows a curved path
- Yes, exactly straight
- It blows only in circles
Right or left
Open both tabs.
Curved paths
Without rotation the air would go straight from high to low pressure. The rotation turns it, so the wind curves. Which way it turns depends on the hemisphere.
The Earth's rotation deflects planetary winds from straight paths, to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, so they follow curved paths.
Notes
The Earth's rotation deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, so they follow curved paths.
Check yourself
What deflects planetary winds from their straight paths?
In which direction are winds deflected in the Northern Hemisphere?
In which direction are winds deflected in the Southern Hemisphere?
As a result of the deflection, planetary winds …
- The tilt of the Earth's axis. The tilt gives rise to the seasons. The chapter says the rotation of the Earth deflects the winds.
- The rotation of the Earth — correct. Yes!
- The ozone layer. The chapter says the rotation of the Earth deflects the winds.
- To the left. Winds are deflected to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
- They are not deflected. The rotation deflects winds in both hemispheres.
- To the right — correct. Yes!
- To the left — correct. Yes!
- To the right. Winds are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Straight towards the equator. Winds are deflected from straight paths in both hemispheres.
- Blow directly from high pressure to low pressure. The deflection makes them follow curved paths rather than moving directly.
- Follow curved paths instead of moving directly from high to low pressure — correct. Yes!
- Stop blowing. Winds still blow. They follow curved paths.