I want to start by saying that i know the atmosphere is obviously contained around the earth, so thus, does travel with it,
However what i want to know is do the different layers of atmosphere actually rotate as the earth does,
Or does the atmosphere stay stationary (relatively speaking) and the earth rotate within it?

Its been bugging me and i could not find any conclusive scientific evidence on my own,
If i have not explained my question clearly enough, then feel free to ask for more detail on what exactly I am asking

Thanks for any help

That is a great question...IMO I believe from what I know...that the atmosphere/weather etc...do rotate with the earth but not at the same speed...it's seems to me it has it's own orbital characteristics within earth orbit...fantastic question though!

In general the atmosphere rotates at the same rate as the latitude where it happens to be. If it didn't there would be a steady 1,000 mph breeze at the equator.

It gets dragged along with the surface of the planet. But, since the angular velocity of the surface changes the farther north of south of the equator you are there are differences. These differences are what cause the circular movement of air around high and low pressure areas. The Coriolis effect.

[edit on 18-11-2008 by Phage]

Originally posted by Phage
In general the atmosphere rotates at the same rate as the latitude where it happens to be. If it didn't there would be a steady 1,000 mph breeze at the equator.

It gets dragged along with the surface of the planet. But, since the angular velocity of the surface changes the farther north of south of the equator you are there are differences. These differences are what cause the circular movement of air around high and low pressure areas. The Coriolis effect.

[edit on 18-11-2008 by Phage]

do all the different layers of the atmosphere move in this way?
and what exactly keeps it in place, i assume it is not held in place by gravity,
And if it is held in place then how exactly is it able to rotate?