What is the Coriolis effect? how does it affect air in the northern and southern hemispheres?

This force is at a maximum at the poles, and at a minimum at the equator. This is the reason that hurricanes can not form with in 5 degrees latitude of the equator. The Corioles force generates a counterclockwise spin to low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere and a clockwise spin to low pressure in the Southern Hemisphere.