Assume that the absolute vorticity of flowing air is conserved. If air is moving northeastward, which of the following statements is correct?
A)Air will bend anticyclonically to compensate for an increase in the Earth's vorticity.
B)Air will bend cyclonically to compensate for a decrease in the Earth's vorticity.
C)Air will bend anticyclonically to compensate for a decrease in the Earth's vorticity.
D)Air will bend cyclonically to compensate for an increase in the Earth's vorticity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CWhen air moves from the equator towards the poles (e.g., northeastward in the Northern Hemisphere), it experiences an increase in the Earth's vorticity due to the conservation of absolute vorticity. To compensate, the air will bend anticyclonically (A), which means it will curve in a direction opposite to the rotation of the Earth. This is because the relative vorticity must decrease to offset the increase in Earth's vorticity, maintaining the conservation of absolute vorticity. Option C is also correct because it describes the same anticyclonic adjustment but frames it as compensating for a decrease in the Earth's vorticity, which is a less accurate description of the physical process but could be interpreted as describing the same phenomenon from a different perspective. However, the most direct and accurate explanation is provided by option A.

Assume That the Absolute Vorticity of Flowing Air Is Conserved