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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-coriolis-equator-zero

At the same speed, where is Coriolis deflection strongest?

At the poles. It fades to zero at the equator.

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  1. At the equator
  2. At the poles ✔
  3. The same everywhere

Why: The amount of Coriolis bending depends on latitude. It is greatest at the poles and shrinks to zero at the equator. Faster-moving air also gets bent more.

Huh, didn't know that: You cannot feel it while walking because people move slowly over short distances.

The dad joke
Why did the Coriolis force skip the equator? It just was not feeling it there.
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References

Answer: At the poles. The amount of Coriolis bending depends on latitude. It is greatest at the poles and shrinks to zero at the equator. Faster-moving air also gets bent more.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 12 Weather Theory www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
    It is greatest at the poles and diminishes to zero at the equator.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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