What are three factors that affect wind direction?

Answer 1

The main factor is the high and low pressure cells. Air moves from high to low pressure cells. This air movement is affected by the coriolis effect, which causes highs to spin anticlockwise and lows to spin clockwise (in the Southern Hemisphere, in northern hemisphere is opposite). If you have a look at these systems on a weather map, and draw arrows representing the direction of air flow, you can see what direction wind is going.

Another factor is mountains. These can deflect the normal air flow. For example, in North America, the wind cannot pass the mountains on the western side of the continent. Instead of the wind going in its normal fashion, it is deflected around the mountain chain, and leads the prevailing wind in the north of the continent to be a nor-easter, which leads to the cold winter temperatures there.

Answer 2

Pressure gradient,coriolis force and friction.

If the force due to pressure gradient were to act alone,then the wind moves from high pressure area to low pressure area.Coriolis force is an apparent force brought about by the rotation of the earth and it affects large scale wind systems.It deflects the winds to the right in the Northern hemisphere.This force varies with wind speed and latitude.Friction retards the air movement and is greatest near the surface.Effect of friction decreases rapidly above 2000 feet.Near the surface,due to friction air flows at an angle to the isobars(lines of equal pressure).

Further,gravity and centrifugal force(in the case of curved isobars) also affect wind systems.

Answer 3

1) Coriolis effect

2) Friction

3) Air pressure

Answer 4

Coriolis effect, air pressure, and friction

Answer 5

Pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and friction force.