In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes wind to curve in which direction?

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes wind to curve in which direction?

• A. Left
• B. Upward
• C. Downward
• D. Right

Answer: (D)

Moving air feels a sideways push from Earth’s rotation. In the Northern Hemisphere, this deflection is to the right of the wind’s initial direction. So a wind heading north curves toward the east, a wind heading east curves toward the south, and so on. The effect is zero at the equator and grows with latitude and wind speed. That’s why winds curve to the right, not left, upward, or downward.

Moving air feels a sideways push from Earth’s rotation. In the Northern Hemisphere, this deflection is to the right of the wind’s initial direction. So a wind heading north curves toward the east, a wind heading east curves toward the south, and so on. The effect is zero at the equator and grows with latitude and wind speed. That’s why winds curve to the right, not left, upward, or downward.