How do winds blow around pressure centers in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

1 Answer
Jacobi J.
Dec 7, 2017

N.Hemisphere: counterclockwise around low pressure, clockwise around high pressure, the opposite for the S.Hemisphere

Explanation:

In the Northern Hemisphere, air flows counterclockwise around low pressure (hence why hurricanes rotate counterclockwise). Air flows clockwise around high pressure.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the reverse is true. Air flows clockwise around low pressure and counterclockwise around high pressure. The reason the air flows are opposite in the hemispheres is due to the Coriolis Force/Effect, which describes how the rotation of the Earth affects moving objects.

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