The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area __________.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, cyclones and typhoons rotate clockwise, opposite to the Northern Hemisphere • The dangerous semicircle is the side where the storm’s circular wind plus the storm’s forward motion combine to give the strongest winds and largest seas • Consider how the storm’s track (direction of movement) adds or subtracts from the rotating wind on each side
• First, picture a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere moving along a straight track. Which way is it rotating when viewed from above? • On one side of the track, the wind direction will be roughly in the same direction as the storm’s motion; on the other side it will be more opposed to the motion. Which side gives stronger relative wind? • Once you know which physical side (left/right of track) is more dangerous, match that to how the answer choices describe that semicircle (by compass bearings or by position relative to the track)
• Be sure you are using Southern Hemisphere rotation (clockwise), not the Northern Hemisphere pattern • Confirm which answers are describing the semicircle relative to the storm’s track versus relative to compass directions • Check that the option you choose correctly represents a 180° sector that matches the physically more dangerous side you identified
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!