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The Coriolis force predicts that winds in the northern hemisphere should be deflected in a clockwise pattern and winds in the southern hemisphere should be deflected in an anti-clockwise pattern. Why is it that in the case of cyclones however, the cyclones spin anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere?

If it's indeed true then what is clockwise and anti-clockwise direction?!

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In terms of the Coriolis effect in the Northern hemisphere the air is deflected to the right relative to the direction of motion of the air.
So in the Northern hemisphere if the wind is moving North it is deflected East, and if the wind is moving South it is deflected West.

The sketch below shows air moving towards a region of low pressure the eye of a typhoon/cyclone/hurricane and being deflected to forms a body of air moving in an anticlockwise direction.

enter image description here

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    $\begingroup$ How does that answer the question? By that logic and that graphic, it still seems like a hurricane in the northern hemisphere should rotate clockwise, and vice versa in the southern hemisphere; yet in reality it's the opposite. Why is that? That's what they were asking. $\endgroup$
    – Outis Nemo
    Commented Dec 18, 2023 at 14:43
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    $\begingroup$ The diagram is for the movement of air in the Northern hemisphere with an anticlockwise rotation. $\endgroup$
    – Farcher
    Commented Dec 18, 2023 at 17:55

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