Final answer:
Without Earth's rotation, global wind patterns would radically change due to the absence of the Coriolis force, resulting in air flowing directly from high to low-pressure areas and significantly altering climate and weather phenomena.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the rotation of Earth were to stop, the global wind patterns such as the prevailing westerlies in the northern hemisphere would be dramatically affected. Without Earth's rotation, there would be no Coriolis force, which is a major influence on the direction and movement of wind systems. Air would flow directly from high to low pressure without any deflection, leading to completely different weather systems. For example, under the influence of the Coriolis force, hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere rotate counterclockwise and wind currents around high and low pressure systems are deflected to the right; but without this force, such rotations and deflections would not occur.
Impacts of a Non-Rotating Earth
In a non-rotating Earth scenario, typical wind patterns and weather systems we observe today would not exist, leading to potentially drastic changes in climate and weather-related phenomena. The lack of the Coriolis force would likely result in a much simpler and possibly more extreme distribution of winds and temperatures, with strong winds blowing from the poles directly to the equator. This would cause significant alterations to ecosystems and possibly impact the habitability of certain regions.