Question

Identify and explain which direction the winds move in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere (are they the same or different?). Use the arrow numbers that represent the correct air movement in your response.

Answer 1

Wind patterns in the Northern and Southern hemispheres are affected by the Coriolis force, leading to counterclockwise rotating storms in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise rotating storms in the Southern Hemisphere due to the deflection of winds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Coriolis force is responsible for the direction of wind movement in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force causes winds to be deflected to the right, leading to a counterclockwise rotation of storms, such as hurricanes. In contrast, in the Southern Hemisphere, winds are deflected to the left because of the Coriolis effect, thus leading to a clockwise rotation in weather systems like tropical cyclones.

This effect can be visualized through satellite images where low-pressure zones, creating storms with significant cloud formation and strong winds, show a distinguishing pattern of rotation due to the Coriolis force. Wind flow towards a low-pressure zone is altered by this rotation, creating the characteristic weather patterns we observe from space or on weather maps.