Current direction around high and low pressure centres in the northern and southern hemisphere.

Circulation around centres of low pressure is called cyclonic, circulation around centres of high pressure is called anti-cyclonic (irrespective of hemisphere).

An alternative pair of terms not used very frequently refers to movement of the sun:

• contra-solem (literally "against the sun") for cyclonic,
• cum-sole (literally "with the sun") for anti-cyclonic.

The terms "clockwise" and "anti-clockwise" are often used but are not independent of hemisphere:

• cyclonic motion is anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern hemisphere,
• anti-cyclonic motion is clockwise in the northern hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

contact address: