Re: coriolis force and air currents in an O'Neil colony

Logan Kearsley wrote:

On Aug 23, 5:54 am, Tux Wonder-Dog <wes.par...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I'm guessing that the coriolis force would be the primary component of
air currents in an O'Neil space colony.

Heated air would rise in relation to that coriolis force, not in relation
to gravity, since an O'Neil doesn't have gravity as such.

What sort of atmospheric systems would result from such inputs?  On Earth
we have "cells" corresponding to distance from the equator: I'm guessing
in an O'Neil we would have columns of dry, hot air extending from the
"solar panels" to the centre of the colony, and then over the land/water
strips, we would have columns of moist air.  But the land/water strips
and the solar panels would be moving to one side underneath the columns
of air, so that at the very centre of the O'Neil, it would be very
turbulent.

I'm also guessing that it could get quite wet at nights, when the air
cools.

Anyone got a more accurate perspective on the question?

I might expect "eye storms", like on the Ringworld (although much
smaller scale and different in origin). Rising air will move with the
rotation of the cylinder, falling air will move against the rotation
of the cylinder, resulting in storm systems that rotate horizontally
aligned with the axis of the cylinder.

-l.
Thanks.

The poor character in the centre of the action's not going to like it at
al ... :)

Wesley Parish
.

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