How do surface winds circulate around a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?

How do surface winds circulate around a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?

• A. Clockwise and outward from the center
• B. Counterclockwise and inward toward the center
• C. Clockwise and inward toward the center
• D. Counterclockwise and outward from the center

Answer: (B)

Air moves toward a low-pressure center at the surface, and the Coriolis effect deflects that inward flow to the right in the Northern Hemisphere. The combination of the pressure-gradient force pulling air toward the center and the rightward deflection from Coriolis makes the surface winds circulate counterclockwise around the low while spiraling inward toward the center. Surface friction slows the wind a bit, which reinforces the inward convergence toward the low. This differs from a high-pressure pattern, where winds tend to diverge outward and rotate clockwise.

Air moves toward a low-pressure center at the surface, and the Coriolis effect deflects that inward flow to the right in the Northern Hemisphere. The combination of the pressure-gradient force pulling air toward the center and the rightward deflection from Coriolis makes the surface winds circulate counterclockwise around the low while spiraling inward toward the center. Surface friction slows the wind a bit, which reinforces the inward convergence toward the low.

This differs from a high-pressure pattern, where winds tend to diverge outward and rotate clockwise.