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Rossby waves are curves in the wind pattern in the upper atmosphere in the mid latitudes, the pattern's curves resulting from the Earth's rotation. The same mechanism creates similar curves in the current pattern of the ocean. The key factor in instigating and maintaining them is the variation in Coriolis force over latitude. Essentially, the tendencies that fix the position of the border between atmospheric "cells" (such as the Hadley cell) approximate the wave equation, in a manner analogous to a taut string's tendencies that allow traveling waves along the string. Understanding Rossby waves is key to Earth weather prediction and they also serve as a useful model for wind patterns found on other planets. Such waves have also been considered as possible triggers for some types of planet formation within protoplanetary disks.