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The air in the eye of a hurricane ______________________.

A. sinks, warms, and absorbs moisture, leaving the core clear and cloud-free
B. rises, cools, and absorbs moisture, leaving the core clear and cloud-free
C. rises, cools, and expels moisture, leaving the core clear and cloud-free
D. sinks, warms, and expels moisture, leaving the core clear and cloud-free
E. is stable, neither moving up nor down

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Final answer:

The air in the eye of a hurricane sinks, warms, and expels moisture, creating a clear and cloud-free core due to the descending air warming up and absorbing moisture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The air in the eye of a hurricane sinks, warms, and expels moisture, leaving the core clear and cloud-free. This process can be understood by examining the behavior of tropical cyclones, which consist of storms with a low pressure center and rotating wind patterns due to the Coriolis force. In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate counterclockwise due to this force. As the air converges towards the low pressure center of the hurricane, it rises and cools, leading to condensation and cloud formation. However, in the center of the hurricane, known as the eye, the air is descending. This descending air warms up due to higher pressure, and as it warms, its capacity to hold moisture increases, causing any present moisture to evaporate, making the sky in the eye clear. This descending and warming pattern in the eye creates a stark contrast to the severe weather conditions surrounding it in the hurricane's eyewall.

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