Why Do Rivers Flow? Earth's Bulge Causes Uphill Flow

[alphabeta1720]

Because the Earth bulges near the equator, the source of the Mississippi River ( at about 50 N latitude),although high above sea level, is about 5 km closer to the center of the Earth than its mouth ( at about 30 N latitude). How can the river flow "uphill" as it flows south ?

 

[russ_watters]

The eath's bulge is due to its rotation. The surface actually is roughly at the same gravitational potential so no, rivers do not flow uphill.

 

[mrspeedybob]

centrifugal force acts on the water in the river the same way it acts on the surface of the Earth so while the river may in fact be flowing away from the center of the Earth it is flowing toward the outside of a spinning circle.