The Coriolis force is quite different at the equator than it is at the Poles. In fact, the magnitude is zero at the equator. This is why there is no Coriolis force at the equator and why hurricanes rarely form near the equator.
Given that sea surface temperatures need to be at least 80°F (27°C) for tropical cyclones form, it is natural that they form near the equator. However, with only the rarest of occasions, these storms do not form within 5° latitude of the equator. See also what sea lies along the west coast of greece.
So, can tropical storms cross the equator?
Theoretically, a hurricane can cross the equator. Counter-clockwise hurricane winds in the Northern Hemisphere, a result of the Coriolis force (an apparent deflective force driven by the Earth’s spin that gives storms the rotation needed for development) would blow clockwise south of the equator. However, the Coriolis force is zero at the equator.
This begs the question “Should you be worried about tropical storms near the equator?”
“ For centuries, sailors haven’t worried about tropical storms near the equator,” says Dr. C., -p Chang, a meteorology professor at the school, “It’s a rule that cyclones are not supposed to develop there.”.
What is the difference between tropical storms and extratropical storms?
Tropical storms generally move away from the equator, though the direction of travel varies. They are called tropical storms because the form in or near the tropics over warm ocean water and have tropical characteristics such as a warm core whereas extratropical systems (outside the tropics) generally have a cold core.
Why don’t tropical storms form at the equator?
They cannot form on the equator as there is no Coriolis effect. Also they need to be near the equator region as the warmer waters are located there. Other than that they follow the normal wind currents. In what part of Earth do tropical storms form? They form over the oceans Rainforest and the equator?
You see, 150 years of tropical cyclone tracks through 2006. The graphic above clearly reveals that hurricanes (Atlantic basin, E. Pacific), typhoons (W. Pacific), and cyclones (Indian Ocean, Australia) rarely if ever form between 5 deg North and 5 deg South latitudes, respectively.
Another thing we wanted the answer to was; why don’t hurricanes form near the equator?
Observations show that no hurricanes form within 5 degrees latitude of the equator. People argue that the Coriolis force is too weak there to get air to rotate around a low pressure rather than flow from high to low pressure, which it does initially.
What happens when a tropical cyclone crosses the equator?
If a tropical cyclone, especially a large one, crosses the equator and attains appreciable latitude in the opposite hemisphere, say the outer tropics or lower middle latitudes, then the gradient wind approximation rather than the cyclostrophic wind approximation is applicable. But antibaric gradient wind is still a stable flow.
Can a hurricane ever cross the equator?
Hurricane crossing the equator. No known hurricane has ever crossed the equator. Hurricanes require the Coriolis force to develop and generally form at least 5° away from the equator since the Coriolis force is zero there.
Due to Coriolis, a hurricane initially moving parallel to the Equator will start gaining a poleward component to its motion, thus moving it away from the Equator. But, because this is due to Coriolis, if you could get a storm close enough to the Equator, this effect would not be as strong.
How often do tropical storms occur in the world?
There are seven basins in which tropical storms are seen to form regularly at different times throughout the year, these are sometimes referred to as seasons. North- West Pacific basin: Occur all year round.
More than one tropical storm can occur in the same ocean and region at once. Due to the coriolis effect, the storm’s surface wind will be deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere to rotate counter-clockwise, and to the left to rotate clockwise in the southern hemisphere.