From Sam Edge, Ringwood, Hampshire, UK
Kelly Oakes suggests that a space elevator needs to be tethered at the equator to avoid hurricanes. (12 January, p 42). Regardless of weather, it must be terminated at the equator since its centre of mass must be in geosynchronous orbit. All such orbits are directly over the equator as defined by the spin axis of Earth.
As Oakes says, there would have to be some flexibility in the structure so it can be moved out of the way of hazards. Since there would ideally be no net force holding it to the surface – it is effectively hanging from space – this wouldn't be a problem. But the termination point couldn't be pulled very far from the equator without feeling catastrophic lateral forces.
