Upper-level air that flows straight from west to east across the United States
A)favors formation of strong cyclones.
B)is associated with meridional patterns.
C)does not have pronounced vorticity characteristics.
D)is breaking the normal upper-wind flow pattern from east to west.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

West to east flow is associated with zonal or zonal-mean patterns, which do not have pronounced vorticity characteristics. A favors formation of strong cyclones may be misleading because it depends on other factors like the temperature gradient rather than just the direction of the upper-level flow. B is incorrect because meridional patterns are associated with flow that meanders north and south, not west and east. D is also incorrect because the normal upper-wind flow pattern from east to west is the result of trade winds near the equator, not the mid-latitude westerlies that flow from west to east.

Upper-Level Air That Flows Straight from West to East Across