Final answer:
The statement about the ocean's surface moving 45 degrees to the right of the wind due to the Coriolis force in the Northern Hemisphere is true. This force is vital for forming weather patterns like hurricanes, which rotate counterclockwise because of the deflection of winds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the water surface of the open ocean moving 45° to the right of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere is true. This deflection is due to the Coriolis force, which is a result of the Earth's rotation. As the Earth spins, moving objects including air and water currents are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This effect is crucial in the formation of large-scale weather patterns such as hurricanes, which rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere due to the rightward deflection of winds. Without the Coriolis effect, air would move directly into low-pressure areas, and the distinctive rotational patterns of these weather systems would not occur.
Coriolis Force in Weather Patterns
In regards to weather phenomena, the Coriolis force is essential in understanding the rotation direction of the storms. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate counterclockwise because the Coriolis force deflects winds to the right, away from a high-pressure area, causing a clockwise rotation. Similarly, the deflection to the right contributes to the counterclockwise rotation observed in hurricanes.