Coriolis effect

American  

[kawr-ee-oh-lis] / ˌkɔr iˈoʊ lɪs /

noun

1. the apparent deflection Coriolisacceleration of a body in motion with respect to the earth, as seen by an observer on the earth, attributed to a fictitious force Coriolisforce but actually caused by the rotation of the earth and appearing as a deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and a deflection to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Coriolis effect Scientific  

/ kôr′ē-ō′lĭs /

1. The observed effect of the Coriolis force, especially the deflection of objects or substances (such as air) moving along the surface of the Earth, rightward in the Northern Hemisphere and leftward in the Southern Hemisphere. The Coriolis effect is named after the French engineer Gustave Gaspard Coriolis (1792–1843).

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Coriolis effect Cultural  

1. An apparent force ultimately due to the rotation of the Earth. It is the Coriolis effect that makes the air in storms rotate counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

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Etymology

Origin of Coriolis effect

1965–70; named after Gaspard G. Coriolis (died 1843), French civil engineer

Example Sentences

The planet’s rotation gives rise to the Coriolis effect, which deflects air flow and determines the direction of its swirling cyclones and bands.

From New York Times • May 21, 2024

On Earth, the Coriolis effect, from the planet’s rotation, would warp the motion of the mercury in mirrors larger than 8 meters.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 13, 2022

Earth’s rotation creates the Coriolis effect, which influences the speeds of launched rockets and the spins of hurricanes.

From Scientific American • Sep. 18, 2021

For those who are unfamiliar, the Coriolis effect is the scientific name of why toilet water is rumored to flush in opposite directions in different hemispheres.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2015

The Coriolis effect happens because of the difference between these two tangential velocities.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd