Sky's the Limit: Ace Your AMS Certification Test 2026 – Become a Weather Wizard!

The phenomenon that causes global winds to curve due to the rotation of the Earth is known as the Coriolis Effect. It is a result of the Earth's rotation and the varying speeds at which different latitudes move. As air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, the rotation of the Earth causes it to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection alters the typical north-south wind patterns and contributes to the formation of wind belts and ocean currents.

The other options refer to different concepts related to atmospheric and meteorological phenomena. The Jet Stream, for instance, is a fast-flowing ribbon of air high in the atmosphere that significantly affects weather patterns but is influenced by the Coriolis Effect rather than defining it. Trade Winds are specific patterns of winds found in the tropics influenced by pressure gradients and the Earth's rotation but are not themselves the mechanism of curvature. Wind Shear refers to changes in wind speed or direction with altitude, which can have important implications for weather and aviation but also does not encompass the global wind deflection caused by the Earth’s rotation.