Upper air winds ________.
A)are generally faster than surface winds
B)are unaffected by the Coriolis force
C)are greatly influenced by friction
D)both A and B

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Upper air winds, also known as geostrophic winds, are generally faster than surface winds due to the lack of frictional drag that slows down surface winds.

Answer: B
 Upper air winds are affected by the Coriolis force, just like surface winds. In fact, the Coriolis force is what causes the upper air winds to move in a circular, clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer: C
 Friction has a negligible effect on upper air winds because they are so far above the Earth's surface. It is only at low levels where the surface roughness and topography create significant frictional drag on the wind.

Therefore, the correct answer is A.

Upper Air Winds ________