Coriolis Effect

• different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of solar heat

  • warm and cold air not evenly distributed

• Earth’s rotation causes warm and cold air masses to move

  • rotation is faster at the equator and 0 mph at the poles

  • differing velocities cause air bodies to move along curved paths

  • curve to the right in the N hemisphere

  • curve to the left in the S hemisphere

  • curve (or Coriolis effect) is 0 at the equator and greatest at the poles

Coriolis Effect and Hurricanes

• hurricanes are low pressure centers

• air wants to flow from high to low pressure

• air is pulled towards the low-pressure center and is deflected to the right (in N hemisphere) due to Coriolis effect

• causes counterclockwise rotation (in N hemisphere)

Formation-Tropical Disturbance

• warm, moist air rises over warm (>80 degrees F) ocean

• ocean water evaporates, condenses in the atmosphere

• warm, moist air drawn into air mass and forced upwards

• low pressure area and thunderstorms created

• more evaporation of warm water increases movement of air upwards and strengthens the storm