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Q61 (NDA-II/2013) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric pressure winds Answer Verified

Which of the following statements about Tornadoes are correct? Tornadoes usually spin 1. anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere 2. clockwise in the southern hemisphere 3. clockwise in the northern hemisphere 4. anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

Tornadoes are intense cyclonic rotations associated with extremely low-pressure systems [5]. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force deflects winds to the right, initiating a counter-clockwise (anticlockwise) rotation around low-pressure centers [4]. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force deflects winds to the left, resulting in a clockwise rotation [3]. While tornadoes are often too small to be directly governed by the Coriolis effect—deriving their spin instead from vertical wind shear and mesocyclone formation—approximately 98% of them follow these hemispheric cyclonic patterns [2]. Therefore, tornadoes usually spin anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Rare exceptions called anticyclonic tornadoes can spin in the opposite direction, but they represent a very small percentage of occurrences.

Sources

  1. [5] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-south-of-equator-tornadoes-spin-in-opposite-direction/
  2. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Why Tropical Cyclones Do Not Form At The Equator? > p. 310
  3. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 4: Climate of India > Tornado > p. 30
  4. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > UPSC Prelims 2011] Which one of the following weather conditions is indicated by a sudden fall in barometer reading? > p. 308
  5. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > Centripetal Acceleration > p. 309
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CAPF · 2015 · Q113 Relevance score: 4.13

Consider the following statements relating to cyclone, anti cyclone and trade wind : 1. The wind direction is clockwise in the cyclone of northern hemisphere 2. The planetary wind that blows from north-east to north-west is known as north-east trade wind 3. The wind direction is anti clockwisc in the anticyclone of southern hemisphere 4. Both westerlies and trade winds originate from sub-tropical highs Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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CDS-I · 2002 · Q11 Relevance score: 3.43

Consider the following statements with reference to Tornadoes: 1. Tornadoes are smaller and more intense than hurricanes 2. Tornadoes are most abundant along the eastern coast of India 3. The average tornado lasts for less than one hour 4. Tornadoes are most common in the afternoons in the early summer Which of these statements are correct?

IAS · 2005 · Q35 Relevance score: 2.64

Assertion (A) : Wind patterns are clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere. Reason (R) : The directions of wind patterns in the northern and the southern hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis effect.