Why is it that the Westerlies are not affected by the Coriolis effect?

Question

The trade winds and easterlies are deflected correctly. Why not the westerlies?

Answer 1

Trade winds are determined more by the unique geography of the Earth and its oceans than they are by the Coriolis effect. Think about it--it is physically impossible for trade winds or ocean currents to all be deflected in the same direction in the same hemisphere--they would all cross paths!

In reality, air and ocean current circulation is a horribly, horribly complex process. Realize that air and water currents don't just flow at the earth's surface--air has high-altitude currents that may be in a completely different direction than the low altitude trade winds, and in fact high and low altitude currents usually form their own cycles. So you can imagine that the Coriolis effect in such a system certainly affects it, but it does not determine the direction of wind in one particular spot.

Only large, independent and simple weather systems like hurricanes and typhoons have their direction determined by the Coriolis effect. Even things like tornadoes are typically to small to be influenced significantly by the coriolis effect (although their parent storms may be).

Answer 2

All things moving on Earth's surface are deflected by the coriolis force unless they're parallel to the axis of rotation.

Coriolis force is given by the equation:
F=2*m*v*ω*sin (θ) where θ is the angle that the current makes with the axis of Earth's rotation, ω is the Earth's angular velocity, v is the velocity of the wind, and m is the mass of an air mass.

When that angle is zero, the Coriolis force is zero. When it's 90 degrees, the force is at its maximum. Between zero and ninety it's in between.

The westerlies would, in the absence of the Coriolis effect, be coming from the north to the south (in the Northern Hemisphere, and vice versa in the Southern). It's the coriolis effect that deflects them westward.

Answer 3

They are also affected.Insted of southerly they blow from southwest direction but they are usually called westerlies.

Answer 4

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