Watch how the Coriolis effect transforms a pressure low into a rotating cyclone. Particles deflect right in the Northern Hemisphere (anticlockwise spin) and left in the Southern (clockwise).
The Coriolis force is a fictitious force in a rotating reference frame: F = â2m(Ī Ã v). In the Northern Hemisphere, moving air deflects to the right, creating anticlockwise rotation around low-pressure centres. In the Southern Hemisphere, the deflection is reversed.
Toggle between Northern and Southern Hemisphere to see cyclone rotation reverse. Switch between cyclone (low pressure) and anticyclone (high pressure) modes. Adjust particle count and observe the emerging spiral pattern.
The Coriolis effect is negligible for small-scale phenomena (bathtub drains) but dominant at planetary scales. A category 5 hurricane contains the energy equivalent of a 10-megaton nuclear bomb exploding every 20 minutes.