Final answer:
The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms in the northern hemisphere to rotate counterclockwise, due to the rightward deflection of winds flowing towards low-pressure centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Coriolis effect significantly impacts tropical storms in the northern hemisphere by causing them to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This is because as winds flow toward the center of a tropical cyclone, which is an area of low pressure, they are deflected due to the Earth's rotation. In the northern hemisphere, the deflection is to the right, leading to the counterclockwise circulation pattern in hurricanes.
On the other hand, the circulation is clockwise around high-pressure zones. However, high-pressure patterns tend to have clearer skies and are thus less visible from space compared to the cloud formation and rising air associated with the low-pressure zones of tropical storms.