Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 01/10/2015 12:50:02

Title: What will happen to the clouds if the earth stops spinning?
Post by: thedoc on 01/10/2015 12:50:02

Nadia Adam  asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hello i want to ask a question.The question is what will happen to clouds if the earth stops spining.? Will all all the water in the clouds fall back on earth.? Thanks do answer.

   
 
What do you think?

Title: Re: What will happen to the clouds if the earth stops spinning?
Post by: Bored chemist on 01/10/2015 12:55:14

If the Earth suddenly stopped spinning then one thing that would happen to the clouds would be that they would be hit by people, cars, buildings and trees torn from the Earth's surface and flung into the air.

Title: Re: What will happen to the clouds if the earth stops spinning?
Post by: Colin2B on 01/10/2015 14:25:48

Quote from: thedoc on 01/10/2015 12:50:02

Nadia Adam  asked the Naked Scientists:
   Hello i want to ask a question.The question is what will happen to clouds if the earth stops spining.? Will all all the water in the clouds fall back on earth.? Thanks do answer.

   
 
What do you think?

No, it isn't the spinning that keeps the water up there., that is due to buoyancy of the clouds.
However, there would be some interesting implications for our weather. Only one side of the earth would be heated by the sun (although that side would change slowly as the earth went around the sun) so the circulation of air currents and hence moist air would be from hot side to cold. There would also be no coriolis effect so no weather systems as we know them.
Very hot in centre of hot side with hurricane level, icy winds blowing from the cold side?