WX1003 · Southern Hemisphere Weather
8 questions · 8 multiple choice · 0 written · ASA 109 Marine Weather — Southern Hemisphere Weather
Surface winds flow across the isobars into the Lows and out of the Highs in both hemispheres — convergence is what powers a Low and divergence drains a High, regardless of rotation direction. Only the rotational sense reverses in the SH; the inflow/outflow doesn't.
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The Roaring Forties are westerlies — the prevailing global wind belt at SH mid-latitudes, blowing from west to east. Same wind belt as the NH prevailing westerlies, just much stronger because there's no land to break them up.
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In the Southern Hemisphere a sea breeze backs as it builds (Coriolis is reversed). An easterly backs to the north, so it becomes northeasterly. In the NH the same sea breeze would veer (clockwise) and become southeasterly.
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This is Southern Hemisphere. The motion can be described in a general way that applies to both hemispheres.
Tropical cyclones generally move westward (in the trade-wind belt) and then curve poleward (south, in the SH), eventually re-curving east as they enter the westerlies. So: southwest → south → southeast. They very rarely move toward the equator. See figure G194.
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In the SH dangerous semi-circle (left of the storm's track), the wind backs as the storm approaches — opposite to the NH. Veering wind in the SH = navigable semi-circle. Sketch a SH cyclone (clockwise rotation) with an observer on the left side of the track to verify.
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Does it matter if the winds are toward or away from the shore?
Friction effects are reversed because Coriolis is reversed. In the NH winds on land are backed relative to winds on water; in the SH they're veered. Veered and backed have the same definitions worldwide — only the physical effect of friction flips.
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SH fronts hang on the equatorial side of the Low — north of it on a SH map — so the Low looks like it's dangling from the bottom of the frontal system. This looks "upside down" to NH navigators, but relative to the poleward/equatorial sides the geometry is symmetric.
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The Southerly Buster (or Burster) is essentially unique to SE Australia, created in large part by the mountains there. Similar effects occur off the SE tips of Africa and South America, but the name is reserved for the Australian phenomenon.