Posted by andy clayton on May 06, 2009 at 17:06:03 user cousin_jack.
In Reply to: Re: Daylight saving time posted by Peter Ceresole on May 05, 2009 at 10:58:26:
Take a look at a globe. It spins from West to East. All of that eqatorial water down in the Atlantic flows from east to west as a reaction to the spin. As it gets to the coast of Brazil the shape of the South American continent diverts most of it to the north, including what was previously in the southern hemisphere. This mass of warmed water circulates in a clockwise direction to deliver a mild but wet climate to Europe. It drifts down towards Africa to begin its circulation again, but in cooler condition. These circulations take place in all the oceans but the effect is particularly pronounced in the Atlantic due to the shape of the landmasses. The prevailng winds, trades and westerlies etc. are also a direct result of the combined effects of global spin and solar heating. Their general drift is quite logical but can give distinct differences to adjacent countries or places on similar latitudes but on opposite coasts.