Low pressure weather system over the Arctic Ocean. Low pressure systems (cyclones) are characterised by a central region of rising air (just left of c

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Low pressure weather system over the Arctic Ocean. Low pressure systems (cyclones) are characterised by a central region of rising air (just left of centre) which draws air into it from the surrounding regions. The rotation of the Earth causes such systems to develop a spiral shape. Cyclones in the northern hemisphere spiral anticlockwise, those in the southern hemisphere spiral clockwise. Photograph taken by the MODIS instrument on the Aqua satellite at 16:55 GMT on 30th August 2005.

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Size: 4179px × 5433px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2005, 21st, 30/08/2005, afternoon, aqua, arctic, century, climate, cloud, clouds, cyclonic, depression, earth, image, meteorological, meteorology, modis, observation, ocean, pressure, satellite, space, spiral, spiralling, summer, system, types, weather