Final answer:
Air in a cyclone flows counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere due to the Coriolis force, which deflects winds to the right around low-pressure centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Air in a cyclone always flows counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. This motion is primarily due to the effect of the Coriolis force, which deflects the winds to the right, resulting in a counterclockwise rotation around low-pressure systems such as tropical cyclones. For instance, terms like hurricane, typhoon, and tropical storm refer to these types of cyclones, which exhibit low pressure centers, strong winds, and heavy rains. The visualization in figures like 6.16 and 6.28 illustrates this counterclockwise movement caused by the Coriolis force. Moreover, low pressure at the surface means rising air, which leads to cooling and cloud formation, making the cyclone's rotation pattern visible from space.
The Coriolis force causes hurricanes in the northern hemisphere to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, while the tropical cyclones in the southern hemisphere rotate in the clockwise direction. The inward winds are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere, producing a counterclockwise circulation at the surface for low-pressure zones. Conversely, wind circulation around high-pressure zones is clockwise in the northern hemisphere.