In other words, what would happen if the planet started rotating in the opposite direction, like Venus? What effects, if any, would it have on the Earth?
2007-08-25 15:14:52 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Lets say that somehow, in a safe manner, the Earth was able to rotate opposite to how it rotates currently.
Would it affect tides or ecosystems or what?
2007-08-25 15:23:38 · update #1
How long would be the day? Say 24 Hrs? OK...
Let's assume a change without inertia: Like a simple +x-.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬ ▬▬ ▬─
►The wind directions, and the ocean streams will be very different. All the climate will be changed.
The windward and the leeward place will be exchanged.
►Many migratory animal species would disappear.
►Everybody have to adjust their clocks and watches.
►Japan now will be the "sunset empire"
►The TV channels must change their schedules.
►The synchronous satellites don't work more and must be removed from the orbit before we launch new satellites.
►The space centers of many nations most be changed. For USA, the best place to launch satellites will be near San Diego CA.
2007-08-25 15:56:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything else being equal, if the Earth were to rotate in a direction opposite to its current rotation, I suspect little would change except for the direction in which events occurred. I doubt that would be true though, because land masses which affect weather patterns would be on opposite sides compared to today, Weather would travel from East to West in the Northern Hemisphere. The behavior of tropical cyclones would be different because the land masses that contribute to development would occupy a different position relative to their formation.
There are actually too many factors to give a simple answer. The more I think about the question, the more complex the answer becomes.
2007-08-26 04:19:54 · answer #2 · answered by yeochief2002 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The east coast would be 3 hours behind the west.
I am really not sure how to visualize that change. Would there be a gradual slowing down, then a stop, then a reversal or would it be just like a slam on the brakes and then a reversal. I think in either case the physics of the Earth and its orbit wouldn't really allow that to happen.
2007-08-25 15:21:14 · answer #3 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the son would set in the opposite direction?
2007-08-25 15:18:32 · answer #4 · answered by David 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋