typhoon_tip
(Meteorologist)
Wed Oct 19 2005 03:06 PM
Re: Wilma Continued

Quote:

Can someone explain to me all the wobbling. I understand a wobble but this thing looks like it's in a tailspin?



Hi, these odd oscillations you are looking at are called trochodial motions...
by the book that means: "the curve generated by a point on the radius of a circle or the radius extended as the circle rolls on a fixed straight line"... in other words, Wilma is traveling along an average path (according to NHC) that is wnw, while performing small-scaled loops as she goes.

As to the cause... interesting enigma; I haven't actually read any papers formally on the 'cause'.


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