Coriolis Acceleration
The centripetal acceleration may be written in terms of a potential function \( \phi_c \) \[ \phi_c = \frac{|\boldsymbol{\Omega}|^2 |\mathbf{r}_\perp|^2}{2} = \frac{|\boldsymbol{\Omega} \times \mathbf{r}|^2}{2} \Rightarrow \boldsymbol{\Omega} \times (\boldsymbol{\Omega} \times \mathbf{r}) = -\nabla \phi_c \]
Since tthe centrifugal force can be written as a potential, it can be combined with the force potential of the momentum equation \(\rho \frac{d\mathbf{u}}{dt} = -\nabla p + \rho \nabla \phi + \mathcal{F}(\mathbf{u})\) to give a total force potential \[ \Phi = \phi + \phi_c \]
For the Coriolis acceleration \( 2\boldsymbol{\Omega} \times \mathbf{u}_R \), it is the only new term involving the fluid velocity, and it causes the main structural change in the momentum equation when moving to a rotating frame. The centrifugal force only modifies the force potential. If spatial gradients are perceived identically in rotating and nonrotating frames, the momentum equation for an observer in a uniformly rotating coordinate frame becomes \[ \rho \left[ \frac{d\mathbf{u}}{dt} + 2\boldsymbol{\Omega} \times \mathbf{u} \right] = -\nabla p + \rho \nabla \Phi + \mathcal{F} \] where \( \mathbf{u} \) is the velocity in the rotating frame

Although \( p \), \( \Phi \), and their gradients are frame-independent, the function \( \mathcal{F} \) (representing other forces) depends on the velocity field. For a Newtonian fluid it is simple to show \[ \mathcal{F}(\mathbf{u}_I) = \mathcal{F}(\mathbf{u}_R) \]


1 Pedlosky, J. (1982). Geophysical Fluid Dynamics. Springer study edition. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.