inertial circle

inertial circle

[i′nər·shəl ‚sər·kəl] (meteorology) A loop in the path of an air parcel in inertial flow, which is approximately circular if the latitudinal displacement is small. Also known as circle of inertia. (oceanography) The circle described by inertial motion in a body of ocean water and having a radius R = C/f, where C is the particle velocity in a given direction and f is the Coriolis parameter.