Scribd
Upload
98 views2 pages

Understanding Coriolis Acceleration

This document discusses Coriolis acceleration and force. It begins by defining symbols used. It then examines how easterly velocity changes for the earth, air, and wind as one moves north on the northern hemisphere due to decreasing radius. It determines the difference in easterly velocity is -2ΩE. It then derives an expression for Coriolis acceleration as -2ΩESin(Φ)VN. Finally, it states the Coriolis force is proportional to mass and gives the expression FCORIOLIS = 2mΩESin(Φ)VN.

Uploaded by

GuidoArts
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
98 views2 pages

Understanding Coriolis Acceleration

This document discusses Coriolis acceleration and force. It begins by defining symbols used. It then examines how easterly velocity changes for the earth, air, and wind as one moves north on the northern hemisphere due to decreasing radius. It determines the difference in easterly velocity is -2ΩE. It then derives an expression for Coriolis acceleration as -2ΩESin(Φ)VN. Finally, it states the Coriolis force is proportional to mass and gives the expression FCORIOLIS = 2mΩESin(Φ)VN.

Uploaded by

GuidoArts
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CORIOLIS ACCELLERATION

By Guido Arts

SYMBOLS
FCORIOLIS Š Coriolis force @ND
aCORIOLIS = Coriolis accelleration Am ‘ s2 E
m = Mass @kgD
VE = Easterly velocity @m  sD
VN = Northerly velocity @m  sD
N = Northerly displacement @mD
ΩE = Easterly rotation rate @rad  sD
r = Parallel radius @mD
R = Earth equatorial radius @mD
Φ = Latitude @radD

NORTHERLY VELOCITY

Ÿ EARTH

Moving north on the northern hemisphere the radius of ones parallel decreases.
For the earth surface this implies a decrease in VE as the angular velocity ΩE remains constant.

VE Š ΩE r Š ΩE R Cos@ΦD

ΩE = CONSTANTI

â VE â HΩE rL âr
Š Š ΩE Š ΩE
âr âr âr

Ÿ AIR

Moving north on the northern hemisphere the radius of ones parallel decreases.
For the air parcel this implies an increase in VE as the angular momentum remains constant.

VE Š ΩE r Š ΩE R Cos@ΦD

VE r = CONSTANTII

CONSTANTII â H1  rL
CONSTANTII
â VE â r CONSTANTII VE r
Š Š Š- Š- Š - ΩE
âr âr âr r2 r2
Ÿ WIND

Assuming a pure northerly wind VE , ΩE and r of the earth and of the air are (initially) equal. As latitude increases and r
âVE
decreases VE of the earth wil decrease with decreasing r: ( âr
Š ΩE ) and VE of the air will increase with decreasing r:
âV
( ârE Š - ΩE ). The difference in VE will be:

â VE â VE â VE
Š - Š - ΩE - ΩE Š - 2 ΩE
âr WIND âr AIR âr EARTH

EASTERLY CORIOLIS ACCELLERATION


â VE â VE â r â Φ â N
aCORIOLIS Š Š
ât âr âΦ âN ât

â VE
Š - 2 ΩE
âr

II

âr â R Cos@ΦD â Cos@ΦD
Š ŠR Š - R Sin@ΦD
âΦ âΦ âΦ

III

âΦ 1
Š
âN R

IIII

âN
Š VN
ât

Š - 2 ΩE H- R Sin@ΦDL
â VE 1
aCORIOLIS Š VN Š 2 ΩE Sin@ΦD VN
ât R

EASTERLY CORIOLIS FORCE


Apparent forces on masses due to non inertial reference frames are always proportional to mass as their accellerations are
independent of mass.

FCORIOLIS Š aCORIOLIS m Š 2 m ΩE Sin@ΦD VN

You might also like