Question

What are the results of the difference in the Earth’s speed of rotation at various latitudes?

Answer 1

At the equator, the Earth’s speed of rotation is about 1600 km per hour. The speed goes on decreasing poleward. At 60° latitude, it is 800 km per hour. This difference affects the general circulation of the atmosphere. Winds are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, ocean currents are also deflected. This is known as Ferral’s Law. Due to this, the Earth is flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.