GPHY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Noon, Electromagnetic Spectrum, Centrifugal Force

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geography
• Course: GPHY 102
• Professor: Scott Lamoureux

Document Summary

Oblate ellipsoid ( ) bulges ( ) slightly at the equator and flattens at the poles due to the centrifugal force ( ) of its rotation. Counter-clockwise turning of the earth on its axis, an imaginary straight line passing through the center of the planet and joining the. The direction of rotation is counter-clockwise in north pole and. Earth rotation defines the solar day and is the basis of conventional eastward at equator time system. The axis of rotation also sets latitude and longitude. Environmental effects of earth rotation: it imposes a daily rhythm on how earth receives solar energy i. Influence air temperature, air humidity and air motion: it causes winds to turn consistently from the expected direction imposed by the pressure gradients ( ) In northern hemisphere, winds deflect to the right. In southern hemisphere, winds deflect to the left. Create coriolis effect i. ii. iii: link to ocean currents and ocean tides i.