The Pacific is about a foot and a half higher along its western edge-a consequence of the centrifugal force created by the Earth's spin. Just as when you pull on a tub of water the water tends to flow toward the other end, as if reluctant to come with you, so the eastward spin of Earth piles water up against the ocean's western margins.
In "A Short History of Nearly Everything," Bill Bryson explains an intriguing phenomenon concerning the Pacific Ocean. He notes that due to Earth's rotation, the ocean's western edge is elevated by approximately a foot and a half. This elevation is a result of the centrifugal force generated from the planet's spin, which affects how ocean water is distributed.
Bryson compares this effect to water in a tub, where pulling one end causes the water to resist and accumulate at the opposite end. Similarly, the eastward rotation of the Earth leads to a buildup of water along the western margins of the Pacific Ocean, illustrating the fascinating interplay between physics and the natural world.
