In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at...

Question 1 of 2707066636ee928f7522a1c519d1e

In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in illustration D014NG below, should experience a wind shift from what direction?

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Question 1 of 27070

In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in illustration D014NG below, should experience a wind shift from what direction?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Wind circulation around a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere (direction around the isobars using Buys-Ballot’s law) • Typical wind shifts with a cold front vs a warm front (how wind veers or backs as each front passes) • The meaning of veering (clockwise shift) and backing (counterclockwise shift) in wind direction

💭 Think About

• First, decide whether point II is located ahead of the cold front, behind it, or in the warm sector between the cold and warm fronts. How does that position affect what kind of front will pass the observer next? • Looking at the direction each front normally moves around a low in the Northern Hemisphere, which way will the cold front at point II sweep relative to the observer? Does that suggest the wind should shift clockwise (veer) or counterclockwise (back)? • Using Buys-Ballot’s law, if you stand with your back to the wind in the Northern Hemisphere and the low is to your left, what approximate compass direction would the wind blow at point II before and after the front passes?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which type of front (cold or warm) is drawn at point II and which one is most likely to pass over that point next. • Confirm the normal pre-frontal and post-frontal wind directions for that type of front in the Northern Hemisphere. • Make sure the choice you pick matches both: (1) the starting direction and (2) whether the wind shift is clockwise (veering) or counterclockwise (backing).