<p>The symmetry is caused by the the spherical nature of the Earth, the typical weather features that form at certain latitudes, the formation of circulation cells at specific latitude zones, and the effect of the Coriolis force on the weather systems and cloud bands within them.</p>

<p>The latitude (and hence temperature from insolation) controls to a certain extent the broad scale atmospheric circulations. In the zone just North and South of the Equator, you find the trade winds converging towards the Equator from an easterly direction. Their direction is broadly determined by the Coriolis effect. (I think you can just make them out in the photo).</p>

<p>In the mid-latitudes (30-60 degrees) you frequently find extratropical cyclones in both hemispheres. Their formation is beyond the scope of this brief answer (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclogenesis" rel="nofollow">Cyclogenesis</a>), but they are effectively a result of consistent suitable conditions to at those specific latitudes for cyclones to form. They are noticeable in the image as being quite spiral shaped.</p>

<p>The symmetry of cyclonic features is perhaps most enhanced by the Coriolis effect, caused by the rotation of the Earth deflecting moving objects (the weather systems including the clouds) in the atmosphere. This (in combination with the pressure gradient force) causes the spiral-shaped features at the mid-latitudes that you can see in the image. The effect works in opposite directions in respective hemispheres, so in the North, the cloudy bands appear to be turned anticlockwise, and in the South they appear clockwise, enhancing the overall symmetries present.</p>

<p>This is one of my favourite widgets for seeing this:</p>

<p><a href="http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=199.59,9.44,293" rel="nofollow">http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=199.59,9.44,293</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-14T04:17:26.887Z
That visualization is mesmerizing. At some conference some time ago, I was lucky enough to watch it on a 6x3 m$^2$ screen.
Isopycnal Oscillation
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-12T23:20:54.713Z
2015-01-12T23:20:54.713Z
decvalts
<p>Reading <em>Meteorology Fundamentals</em> by Sylvie Malardel, it says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>We observe a symmetry of the cloudy bands with respect to the rotation axis of Earth 
  and between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is the origin of those symmetries?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/w4dy1.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<meteorology><clouds>
Where does the symmetry of cloudy bands come from?
Chirac
# Where does the symmetry of cloudy bands come from?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-17)

Reading *Meteorology Fundamentals* by Sylvie Malardel, it says:

> We observe a symmetry of the cloudy bands with respect to the rotation axis of Earth
> and between Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

What is the origin of those symmetries?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/w4dy1.jpg)

**Tags:** meteorology, clouds


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-12. Score: 4

The symmetry is caused by the the spherical nature of the Earth, the typical weather features that form at certain latitudes, the formation of circulation cells at specific latitude zones, and the effect of the Coriolis force on the weather systems and cloud bands within them.

The latitude (and hence temperature from insolation) controls to a certain extent the broad scale atmospheric circulations. In the zone just North and South of the Equator, you find the trade winds converging towards the Equator from an easterly direction. Their direction is broadly determined by the Coriolis effect. (I think you can just make them out in the photo).

In the mid-latitudes (30-60 degrees) you frequently find extratropical cyclones in both hemispheres. Their formation is beyond the scope of this brief answer (see [Cyclogenesis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclogenesis)), but they are effectively a result of consistent suitable conditions to at those specific latitudes for cyclones to form. They are noticeable in the image as being quite spiral shaped.

The symmetry of cyclonic features is perhaps most enhanced by the Coriolis effect, caused by the rotation of the Earth deflecting moving objects (the weather systems including the clouds) in the atmosphere. This (in combination with the pressure gradient force) causes the spiral-shaped features at the mid-latitudes that you can see in the image. The effect works in opposite directions in respective hemispheres, so in the North, the cloudy bands appear to be turned anticlockwise, and in the South they appear clockwise, enhancing the overall symmetries present.

This is one of my favourite widgets for seeing this:

<http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/surface/level/orthographic=199.59,9.44,293>

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: That visualization is mesmerizing. At some conference some time ago, I was lucky enough to watch it on a 6x3 m$^2$ screen.  

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