Coriolis Effect: How Hurricanes Form & Why they Spin in different ways in North and South Hemisphere

Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are formed due to violent storms that originate over oceans and seas and move towards land, potentially causing extensive damage to both life and property. But there is a very interesting thing related to hurricanes - they spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere but clockwise in the southern hemisphere. Why does that happen?

You may already know that hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are different names for the same natural phenomenon—a tropical cyclone. In essence, they’re all very violent storms that originate over oceans and seas and move towards land. They are caused by pre-existing weather disturbances, moist and warm air, warm tropical oceans and relatively light winds.

In the southern hemisphere, winds traveling towards the equator are diverted towards the east. Similarly, in the northern hemisphere, winds traveling towards the equator are diverted towards east, because earth rotates from west to east. This causes hurricanes to spin in different directions in both hemispheres.

In this video, we explain hurricanes, why and how they form and why they spin in different directions in different hemispheres.

References

#science #funfacts #storms

Music Credits:
Envato Elements/Documentary Voiceover Background Loop by bdProductions

Video Credits:
Envato Elements

Image & Vector Credits:

SUBSCRIBE to get more such science videos!

Follow us on Twitter!

Follow us on Facebook!

Follow our Website!

[gabrielaguilera]

He actually said it the other way around at the beginning, the ones on blue swirl are spinning counter-clockwise haha

[jayjoonprod]

“But due ti the low pressure zones, these winds follow a circular path.”
How do bending east and west lead to storms spinning clockwise and counterclockwise? I still cannot relate

[rexlee]

Great explanation. Glad that you used effect in lieu of force. I know most people know this but some don’t think about it. In the northern hemisphere and you’re looking down at the earth from a satellite the hurricane spins Counter Clockwise. If you are on beach and you look up at the hurricane, it is spinning Clockwise. Just different perspectives. Just for fun.

[davidmburu]

Very very informative. On the Southern hemisphere thought the hurricane would spin anti clockwise

[fatsifu]

In the N hemisphere, the Coriolis effect results in winds deflected to the E with winds coming from the SW. I can see how along the left side of the wind, it deflects the air and results in counterclockwise cyclones but why doesn't it create a cyclone with CW rotations to the right side of the wind.

[aestheticway]

now I've understood very well sir thank u so much for this amazing and easy to understand video 😘😊😊

[phonsefagan]

Nice video! But, looks like the recording is running in reverse at the end: as you've got your storms spinning the wrong way.

[PavelBuravtsov]

why at the equator the winds going to the west(left)??? Isn't momentum and inertia makes the winds going to East since the Earth is rotating to East(right) as well???

[maxpercer]

nice animation of coriolis effect (arrow).
What i dont understand is why when the archer shoots from the equator to the north pole, the path deflects. I understand when the archer is at the north pole and shoots towards the equator, the path of the arrow will deflect (go west of its target), the reason being since he is not rotating at the north pole but the equator is rotating.
I think its because, relative to the equator, the north pole is rotating.

[justnumber]

Why are cyclones big? and thanks for the content love it. Please make a video about why light the fastest wave or the fastest thing why does it have ∞ energy cant sound also have it?

btw not only cyclones spin like that whirlpools, tornado and things that spin with wind (I'm not sure if this correct)

[HairCentral]

Why can’t I save videos from this page?

[__-pgso]

Feasibility and profitivity accounting. Seductionally addressed.

[javierMckim]

this probably why a hurricane will never form with the eye exactly over the equator.

[rickmiller]

I wanna see a hurricane cross the equator, get confused, try to stop like a speeding train, change directions, then barf all over where Atlantis was.

[JonathanMBardsley]

Coriolis doesn’t exist if it did then why does it not effect helicopters it’s the colder air rushing in that causes the spirals

[sqlqbsr]

2:22 the curved appearance of long distance flights has nothing to do with the Coriolis effect.

[jdbbgotskills]

Why would you guys edit the graphics and footage to be the opposite of what they actually are?

[jeffmullins]

Then explain how airplanes going north & south don't experience Coriolis effect which an arrow does???

[spnksspnks]

storm is from outer to circle center, not from circle center to outer