The Earth's atmosphere rotates synchronously with the planet due to frictional drag
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 81/100
Geophysical studies and angular momentum budgets confirm that the Earth's atmosphere rotates synchronously with the planet overall, driven and coupled largely through surface friction and mountain torques.
Evidence for · 3
Global atmospheric angular momentum and Earth‐atmosphere exchange of angular momentum simulated in a general circulation model
1997 · cited by 8
Simulates global atmospheric angular momentum and frictional torques demonstrating how the atmosphere exchanges angular momentum with the rotating Earth.
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More for · 2
The Planetary Boundary Layer
1995 · cited by 0
Discusses the planetary boundary layer where surface frictional drag and momentum fluxes couple the rotating Earth's surface to the fluid envelope above.
Angular momentum exchange between atmosphere and Earth
1993 · cited by 0
Examines angular momentum exchange between the atmosphere and Earth, noting that without such interactions and internal torques the entire planet and its fluid layers would rotate synchronously.