Westerly winds in the upper atmosphere at mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere:
A)are a result of a pressure gradient that moves air from the poles toward the equator.
B)are stronger in summer than in winter.
C)are the reason most mid-latitude storms move from west to east.
D)are moving perpendicular to 500 mb contours.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Westerly winds in the upper atmosphere at mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere are the reason most mid-latitude storms move from west to east. This is because the westerlies drive the movement of weather systems, pushing them from west to east. The other choices are incorrect because the westerly winds are not a result of a pressure gradient that moves air from the poles to the equator (A), they are actually stronger in winter than in summer (B), and their direction is not perpendicular to 500 mb contours (D).

Westerly Winds in the Upper Atmosphere at Mid-Latitudes in the Northern