Winds aloft around high-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere rotate in which direction?

Winds aloft around high-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere rotate in which direction?

• A. Counterclockwise
• B. Inward
• C. Outward
• D. Clockwise

Answer: (D)

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects moving air to the right, which makes winds around a high-pressure system rotate clockwise. The center of a high is a region of higher pressure, so air tends to diverge outward at upper levels; as it moves outward, the rightward deflection from Coriolis causes a clockwise swirl. By contrast, a low-pressure center would produce a counterclockwise rotation with winds spiraling inward. So winds aloft around a high-pressure system go clockwise.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects moving air to the right, which makes winds around a high-pressure system rotate clockwise. The center of a high is a region of higher pressure, so air tends to diverge outward at upper levels; as it moves outward, the rightward deflection from Coriolis causes a clockwise swirl. By contrast, a low-pressure center would produce a counterclockwise rotation with winds spiraling inward. So winds aloft around a high-pressure system go clockwise.