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Old September 25th 04, 07:21 PM posted to uk.sci.weather
Will Will is offline
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First recorded activity by Weather-Banter: Jul 2003
Posts: 639
Default Im sure this question has been asked before...


Col wrote in message ...

"Brendan DJ Murphy" wrote in message
...
What happens if a weather system (such as a depression or hurricane) crosses
the equator?

Does it stop and start spinning in the other direction?


The simple answer to this is that it doesn't or rather *can't*.

Frontal depressions don't form anywhere near the equator anyway
and even hurricanes can't form any nearer than about 5 degrees
from it. It's all to do with the Coriolis force. A hurricane could never
cross the equator as it is always being forced away from it.

Col
--


OTOH I have seen satellite movie loops clearly showing high cloud crossing the
equator from one system to another.

If you ignore meteological "objects" like hurricanes and depressions there is
nothing to stop cloud and moisture from crossing the equator. Winds do blow
across the equator driven by thermal imbalances, just as winds blow straight
over the poles as well.

Will.
--
" A cup is most useful when empty "
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