What is the Coriolis Effect?

The Coriolis Effect refers to the apparent deflection of moving objects relative to the rotating frame of the Earth. This phenomenon arises because the Earth spins on its axis, causing an object in motion—whether it's air flowing in the atmosphere or ocean currents—to turn or curve instead of moving in a straight line.

This effect is essential to understanding various dynamics in meteorology and oceanography, as it influences wind patterns, the direction of storms, and the movement of ocean currents. In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis Effect causes moving air and water to turn right, while in the southern hemisphere, it turns left. This is crucial for predicting weather patterns, shaping global wind systems, and understanding the behavior of ocean currents.

The other options describe different phenomena: a shift in wind due to local topography relates to geographical influences on weather; gravity's influence on weather patterns is a separate concept related to pressure systems; and a system of ocean currents encompasses a broader scope of oceanographic dynamics, which may be affected by the Coriolis Effect but is not the definition of it.