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tusenfem · #**187** (**permalink**) 15-March-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutant gene 71

Here is the original article (since the link back doesn't work):

A New Spin on Earth's Rotation (By Michael Schirber, LiveScience Staff Writer
posted: 25 February, 2005 7:00 a.m. ET)
http://www.livescience.com/environme...ly_planet.html

Perhaps I misunderstood what the article said, and what you describe as 'conservation of momentum' fits in with what they said. I had it where increased atmospheric winds in direction of Earth's spin would add momentum, not detract. But then the question would remain, where did the accelerated winds come from? Only possible source, in my opinnion, from outside Earth would be solar, but that was not what they claimed. Thanks for pointing this out.

I think the theory that Hornblower put forward, is exactly what is in this "livescience article":

[quote = Salstein]
The more forceful winds double the angular momentum of the atmosphere. Angular momentum is a conserved quantity in nature - the example usually given is the spinning ice skater conserving angular momentum by speeding up when she brings her arms in.

In this case, the whole system - comprised of the spinning Earth and swirling atmosphere - adjusts to the blustery winter months by slowing down the solid Earth's rotation. This means the days get longer - by a few thousandths of a second.
[/quote]

(Hornblower gets a round of applause)

Basically, the driver of Earth's weather is the sun and the rotation of the Earth (and the oceans and the mountain ridges ...). This creates the highs and lows which drive the winds in the Earth's atmosphere.