Ferrel's law

[fer-uhlz]

noun

1. the law that wind is deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, derived from the application of the Coriolis effect to air masses.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ferrel's law¹

Named after W. Ferrel (died 1891), American meteorologist

Example Sentences

The winds in consequence tend to blow towards the centre, but being diverted according to Ferrel’s law they rotate spirally inwards at the surface of the earth in a direction contrary to the movement of the hands of a watch in the northern hemisphere, and the reverse in the southern hemisphere.

From Project Gutenberg

FERREL’S LAW, in physical geography.

From Project Gutenberg

In accordance with Ferrel's law, they are deflected to the right, and the result, as will readily be seen, must be a vortex current, which whirls always in one direction—namely, from left to right, or in the direction opposite to that of the hands of a watch held with its face upward.

From Project Gutenberg