In this way energy is shifted form the tropics to the higher latitudes. The coriolis effect is the deflection of winds to the right in the northern hemisphere, to the left in the southern, as a consequence of the earth's rotation. Because of the coriolis effect, the convection currents in the atmosphere follow cured paths. A cyclone is a weather system centered on a low-pressure region. In the northern hemisphere the coriolis effect deflects winds moving inward in a cyclone into a counterclockwise spiral, in the southern hemisphere into a clockwise spiral.
Climate refers to averages in weather conditions over a period of years.
The ice ages were times of sever cold in which ice sheets covered much of Europe and North America. Such long-term climatic changes are probably caused by changes in the earth's motions around the sun. The recent warming of the atmosphere may be due to an increased amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Any use is subject to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .