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Tropical storms rotate as a result of something called the Coriolis effect. This is a consequence of earth's spin that causes the path of anything moving to appear to bend from the perspective of someone standing on earth. In the northern hemisphere paths bend to the right. In the Southern Hemisphere they turn to the left. This effect is generally negligible over short distances, but over long distances, such as the are of influence of a tropical storm, it becomes significant.

In a tropical storm air flows inward due to low pressure, but the Coriolis effect causes the air to change course before reaching the center of lowest pressure. Since this happens to air flowing in from all sides, it causes the whole system to rotate counterclockwise if it is in the northern hemisphere, and clockwise if it is in the southern hemisphere.

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Q: What causes the air of a tropical storm to rotate?
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Why do tropical storms become hurricanes?

A tropical storm is a low pressure area of organized thunderstorms. If conditions are right, and the storm is over warm enough water, the low pressure will draw in warm, moist air. As this air rises in the storm the moisture condenses and releases energy. This causes the pressure in the storm to decrease, which gives it an even stronger pull on the air, resulting in faster winds. When sustained winds reach 74 mph, the tropical storm is considered a hurricane.


When do tropical storms form?

Tropical storms form when the weather system creates heat which powers the storm causing winds to increase. They rely on plenty of warm, moist air from the sea. This causes the spinning to start.


What causes tropical storms?

The precursor to Tropical Storm Lee started out in an area of disturbed weather over the Caribbean Sea. A low pressure system called a tropical wave then emerged from this and traveled into the Gulf of Mexico. There this system gradually became better organized until it was classified as Tropical Depression Thirteen. The depression then fed of the moist air over the Gulf, eventually becoming a strong tropical storm named Lee.


What kind of weather conditions often occur when air rises at fronts?

a tropical storm.


What tornado creating ingredient causes the air to rotate?

Wind shear.


How does a tropical storm become a tropical depression?

A tropical storm becomes a tropical depression if it weakens to the point that it produces winds of less than 39 mph. This can happen for a number of reasons such as moving over land or cold water or encountering dry air or wind shear.


Is a tropical storm a tornado?

No. A tropical storm is a large cyclonic storm system that forms over warm ocean water and produces winds from 39 to 73 mph. With further strengthening a tropical storm can become a hurricane. A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes are a very different phenomenon from tropical storms. First and foremost is that a tropical storm is its own storm system while a tornado is a relatively small vortex dependent on a parent thunderstorm. Additionally tornadoes usually form on land and are more common in temperate latitudes than tropical.


Are maritime air masses hurricanes?

No. A maritime air mass is any air mass that originates over the ocean. A hurricanes is an intense tropical storm.


Why is temperature important for a tropical storm?

Temperature is important for a tropical storm because it influences the formation and intensity of the storm. Warm ocean temperatures provide the energy and moisture needed for tropical storms to develop and strengthen. Higher temperatures can lead to more evaporation, which increases the formation of thunderstorms and the likelihood of a tropical storm forming. Warmer temperatures also allow tropical storms to maintain their strength and potentially intensify.


What is caused by low pressure warm air that is rising?

This creates an unstable warm air mass, of which one example is a tropical storm or cyclone.


Where does a storm gets its energy?

From the Sun. (The Sun's energy causes water to evaporate and heat air. the latent heat of the evaporation and the hot air drive the storm).


What caused tropical storm Lee?

The precursor to Tropical Storm Lee started out in an area of disturbed weather over the Caribbean Sea. A low pressure system called a tropical wave then emerged from this and traveled into the Gulf of Mexico. There this system gradually became better organized until it was classified as Tropical Depression Thirteen. The depression then fed of the moist air over the Gulf, eventually becoming a strong tropical storm named Lee.