In which hemisphere does the thermal wind blow with the cold center to one's right?

Prepare for the New Zealand CPL Meteorology Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The thermal wind is a concept in meteorology that describes the relationship between the temperature gradient and the wind direction in the atmosphere due to geostrophic balance. In the context of this question, when considering the direction of the thermal wind, it is essential to understand how the coastal location of cold air affects wind patterns.

In the Southern Hemisphere, when you stand in the thermal wind with a colder temperature center to your right, you will find that the wind blows from the colder region towards warmer regions, spiraling counterclockwise. This behavior is primarily due to the Coriolis effect, which deflects moving air to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, the thermal wind has the cold center to the right of the observer, confirming that option B is correct.

In other regions, like the Northern Hemisphere, the thermal wind would exhibit a different characteristic where the cold air is located to the left of the observer. The equatorial region generally does not exhibit well-defined thermal winds in the same way because it lacks significant temperature gradients due to the uniform warmth. The Western Hemisphere is a geographical designation that does not inherently imply anything about temperature gradients or wind directionality based on thermal effects. Thus, understanding the interaction between temperature gradients and wind in relation to

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy