If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the following list of videos and online simulations on the Coriolis Effect are worth a million. Even with limited understanding of wind deflection in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, anyone can enjoy these games and animations which demonstrate the wind patterns on earth. These meteorology lessons are also a great resource for teachers. Elementary earth science and advanced physics demonstrations on this phenomenon are provided to help answer the (seemingly) easy question - Why does the wind blow?
The University of West Florida presents this interactive video animation tutorial on winds, the Coriolis Effect, and the effects of temperature on air circulation patterns. Included is a self quiz that teachers and homeschool parents could use to create a more elaborate assessment. Even if you are not in school, you can test your own knowledge! This site is short, to-the-point, and very effective as a learning tool.
NASA presents a free video of the Coriolis Effect in Quicktime and Windows Media Player formats in this link. Also available is an open captioned version. Part of the Brain Bites series, this classroom video is only a minute long, easy to download, but ultimately very effective in teaching Coriolis.
The definition of Coriolis Force is shown in a full animation online. You may have to click to run the Active X control, but the animation clip is very explanatory.
Idealized Hadley Cell circulation is shown in this animation making it a very effective tool in demonstrating wind circulation on earth.
This 3 minute video targets a younger audience but demonstrates the effects of Coriolis on hurricanes. It shows and explains the counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes. Although the video features younger students, it really is adaptable to upper levels.
Foucault’s Pendulum and the Coriolis Effect are demonstrated in a series of videos and examples. Although the examples and information are targeted towards physics, the movies play a key role in the set because they are able to be shown in slow motion. It also includes a video of the bands on Jupiter showing zonal flow due to differential rotation speeds.
While not a video, this is a great link to understand why drains do not swirl in the opposite directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
