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The Effect of the Earth’s Rotation on Ground Water Motion
Author(s) -
Loáiciga Hugo A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2006.00241.x
Subject(s) - equator , gravitational acceleration , rotation (mathematics) , gravitation , gravitational potential , physics , earth's rotation , mechanics , pressure gradient force , gravitational force , acceleration , classical mechanics , geodesy , geology , geometry , mathematics , latitude , quantum mechanics
The average pore velocity of ground water according to Darcy’s law is a function of the fluid pressure gradient and the gravitational force (per unit volume of ground water) and of aquifer properties. There is also an acceleration exerted on ground water that arises from the Earth’s rotation. The magnitude and direction of this rotation‐induced force are determined in exact mathematical form in this article. It is calculated that the gravitational force is at least 300 times larger than the largest rotation‐induced force anywhere on Earth, the latter force being maximal along the equator and approximately equal to 34 N/m 3 there. This compares with a gravitational force of ∼10 4 N/m 3 .