Recent research has concluded that strong volcanic plumes exhibit cyclonic, storm-like rotation, which helps explain why volcanic thunderstorms occur. The article indicates that the volcanic plume from Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 exhibited anticlockwise rotation, which I infer to be consistent with the rotation of a low-pressure system in the northern hemisphere. My question: Will the rotational direction of these volcanic mesocyclones be governed by the Coriolis Effect, local atmospheric conditions, compositional characteristics of the plume, or some combination of these factors?
posted by baphomet on Mar 29, 2009 - 6 answers

Equatorial physics filter: Please help explain (or debunk) the following three experiment results conducted on the equator. [more inside]
posted by saladpants on Jan 11, 2007 - 25 answers

So, in the southern hemisphere water flows one way down the toilet and in the northern, the other. What happens on the equator?
posted by Mossy on Sep 4, 2004 - 11 answers