Latitude and Longitude Lines

Coriolis Force is an apparent force that acts on objects moving within a rotating frame of reference — such as Earth. It causes moving objects to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Key Points about Coriolis Force:

1. Not a Real Force:
   It is a fictitious or inertial force that arises due to the rotation of Earth.

2. Direction of Deflection:

   • Northern Hemisphere: Objects deflect to the right.

   • Southern Hemisphere: Objects deflect to the left.

Applications:

• Formation of cyclones and anticyclones

• Ocean currents

• Missile trajectories

• Flight paths of airplanes

Latitude is the angular distance measured in degrees north or south of the equator, which is designated as 0° latitude.

• Ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° at the poles.

• Northern Hemisphere latitudes are written as °N, and

• Southern Hemisphere latitudes as °S.

Explanation:

• The Earth completes a 360-degree rotation in 24 hours.

• So, per hour:

  360∘24 hours=15∘ per hour\frac{360^\circ}{24\ \text{hours}} = 15^\circ\ \text{per hour}24 hours360∘​=15∘ per hour

This rotation rate is why time zones are roughly 15 degrees of longitude apart.

Characteristics of the Torrid Zone:

• It lies between 23.5°N and 23.5°S latitude.

• Receives direct sunlight throughout the year.

• Has a hot climate and is home to tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts.

• Experiences minimal seasonal variation in temperature.

The Equinox is Sept. 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and Mar. 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. An Equinox is an event that happens twice a year. In Equinox, all areas of the Earth's surface experience an equal amount of daylight and darkness 12 hours each.

A Solstice is an event that also happens twice a year. It occurs when the Sun is either on Tropic of Cancer or Capricorn. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Solstice happens on June 21, and in the Southern Hemisphere, the Solstice occurs on December 22.

The change of seasons on Earth is caused by:

Tilt of the Earth's Axis +  Revolution around the Sun

Detailed Explanation:

1. Earth’s Tilt:

   • Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees from the vertical axis.

   • This tilt is constant as Earth orbits the Sun.

2. Revolution Around the Sun:

   • Earth takes 365.25 days to complete one orbit.

   • As Earth moves around the Sun, different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight.

3. Resulting Effect:

   • When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it experiences summer (more direct sunlight).

   • When it is tilted away, it experiences winter (less direct sunlight).

   • The opposite happens in the Southern Hemisphere.

Definition of Temperate Zones:

• These are the regions between the tropics and the polar circles.

• There are two temperate zones:

  Hemisphere	Zone Name	Location
  Northern Hemisphere	North Temperate Zone	Between Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and Arctic Circle (66.5°N)
  Southern Hemisphere	South Temperate Zone	Between Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S) and Antarctic Circle (66.5°S)

  Characteristics:

  • Moderate climate (neither extremely hot nor extremely cold).

  • Distinct four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

  • Varying length of day and night with seasons.

Key Facts about the Antarctic Circle:

• It is the imaginary line that circles the Earth at 66.5° south of the Equator.

• Marks the boundary of the South Frigid Zone.

• Within this zone:

  • There is at least one day a year of 24-hour daylight (around December 21, the Summer Solstice).

  • And at least one day a year of 24-hour darkness (around June 21, the Winter Solstice).