In which direction does air move: from a cyclone to an anticyclone, or from an anticyclone to a cyclone?
1 Answer
From high pressure (anticyclone) to low pressure (cyclone).
Explanation:
The force on the air moving from high pressure to low pressure is called the pressure gradient force, but it is not the only thing acting on the air. The fact that the Earth is rotating adds an "apparent" force called the Coriolis force. This is not actually a force but an effect. If you try to draw a straight line on a spinning ball you will see how the effect works.
The Coriolis effect turns the wind so the it flows at 90 degrees to the pressure gradient force. In the Northern Hemisphere, if you put the wind to your back the low pressure will be on your left side.
If these were the only factors involved then low pressures would never fill and high pressures would never dissipate. Friction of the air moving over the ground causes the wind to slow and the effect of the Coriolis to weaken. This results in the gradual spirally in of wind, from a high pressure to low. It is also why hurricanes dissipate much faster over land than over water. Land has much greater friction than water and so the Coriolis effect weakens more over land than water causing the hurricane's intense low pressure center to fill faster.
