Where is the Coriolis force greatest?

The Coriolis force is greatest at high latitudes, such as near the poles. This happens because the Coriolis effect is a result of the Earth’s rotation, which causes moving objects to be deflected from a straight path. The strength of this deflection is directly proportional to the speed of the object and the latitude.

At the poles, the latitude is at its maximum, and because the Earth is a rotating sphere, the surface moves slower relative to the rotation of the Earth compared to points at lower latitudes. This results in a greater apparent deflection of moving objects, such as winds or ocean currents, leading to a stronger Coriolis force.

At lower latitudes, such as the equator, the Coriolis force approaches zero, as the motion of the Earth’s surface carries objects along at a similar rotational speed, leading to minimal deflection. Thus, while the Coriolis effect is present across all latitudes, its strength is maximized at high latitudes, making this the correct answer.