The North/South Debate by Ray Harris

INTRODUCTION

One of the great controversies in Feng Shui today is whether to alter the various Compass School formulae for the Southern Hemisphere. Feng Shui Masters of equal experience and credibility disagree profoundly on this issue. As far as I am aware it has never been examined in detail and radical claims have been made without challenge.

The issue arises out of the obvious differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. For the sake of precision it is necessary to clearly delineate the differences that are cited to justify the need for change.

1. Distribution of solar radiation on the Earth's surface.

The curvature of the Earth in relation to the Sun's rays means that an area around the Equator receives the Sun's heat whereas the poles do not. The difference between the hemispheres lies in the direction of heat and cold; north/south or south/north.

2. The Earth's tilt.

This causes the apparent annual movement of the sun between the two tropics marked by the summer and winter solstices. This causes one hemisphere to warm up and the other to cool down at different times of the year, thus creating the seasons.

3. The Coriolis force

This is a mechanical force created in spinning masses (eg the Earth) that causes the air and water currents to move in different directions in the two hemispheres. In the Southern Hemisphere cyclones and anticyclones rotate in an opposite direction to those in the Northern. Prevailing winds and currents are deflected to the right north of the Equator and to the left south of the Equator.

4. The ionospheric dynamo

The charged particles of the ionosphere are stimulated by the heat of the daylight sun. Due to the Lorentz force, these particles move in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise fashion in the Southern. Note that the flow is opposite in direction to the Coriolis force.