Hurricanes cannot cross the equatorial zone due to the Coriolis effect, which influences their rotation and stability. The Coriolis effect causes hurricanes to spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, creating a chiral nature that prevents them from transitioning across the equator. This phenomenon is linked to the angular momentum of the storm, which resists changes in direction as it approaches the equator. The discussion highlights the importance of understanding the Coriolis effect in Earth Science.
PREREQUISITESStudents of Earth Science, meteorologists, and anyone interested in the dynamics of hurricanes and their interaction with the Coriolis effect.
Which hurricane, or tropical cyclone, has ever crossed the equator?ben_orin said:Do hurricanes experience the Coriolis effect going down category after crossing the equator?
Yes.ben_orin said:Is there a gradual reversal of the direction of water flow (cw/ccw) while approaching the equator that the angular momentum of the hurricane or tropical cyclone resists keeping it from crossing over?
The old human kind.ben_orin said:You're an Engineer? Sweet! What kind?
My favorite kind!!Baluncore said:The old human kind.