U.S. flag An official website of the United States government.
				
				Here's how you know we're official. **Official websites use .gov** A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure websites use HTTPS** A small lock or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
 Search
				Search National Ocean Service




Home
							Ocean Facts
							TOPICS
								Explore All Topics
									Careers
									Economy
									Ecosystems
									Geodesy
									Hazards
									Navigation
									Observations
									Ocean
									Recreation
                                    Sea Level Rise
									Story Maps
									Tools
							
														Education

							
							
							
						
							News
							Podcasts
							Video
							Images
							About Us


NOS Education: About
            
            Students
                
                Nautical Charts
					Sea Floor Mapping

                    
                    Corals
					Currents
					Estuaries
					Global Positioning
					Pollution
					Tides
                    
                    
                    
                    Prince William's Oily Mess
					The Lionfish Invasion
                    
                     
                     
                    Games
					Resources
					Projects
            
            
             Teachers
                
                Ocean&Climate Literacy
					Planet Stewards Program
                    Sea Level Rise
                    The Earth Scientist
                    Oysters In the Chesapeake Bay

                    
                    Professional Development
                    Coral Reefs			      
                	Estuaries
				  	Living in Weather
				 	Ocean & Climate
				  	Tides & Currents
				  	Climate Resources
				  	

                    
                    
                    
                    Lesson Plans
					Curriculum
					
                     
                     
                     
                  
                
            		Education Games
                    Discover Your World
                    Discover Your Changing World


Home  Education  Currents  Earth Rotate
  << Back Coriolis Effect The rotation of the Earth on its axis deflects the atmosphere toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere, resulting in curved paths. The deflection of the atmosphere sets up the complex global wind patterns which drive surface ocean currents. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect. It is named after the French mathematician Gaspard Gustave de Coriolis (1792-1843), who studied the transfer of energy in rotating systems like waterwheels. (Ross, 1995).


Provide Feedback
                        Contact Us
                        Report an error


Science. Service.Stewardship.
 About NOS About Us
						NOS Program Offices
						Media Inquiries
						Website Acknowledgements
 Resources Site Index
						Disclaimer
						Freedom of Information Act
						Accessibility
 More Resources Information Quality
						Privacy Policy
						NOS For Employees
						USA.gov
 National Ocean Service
								National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
								Department of Commerce
 Social