What term describes wind named for the direction or place from which it is blowing?

• A. Wind
• B. Pressure gradient force
• C. Coriolis force
• D. Friction

Answer: (A)

Winds are described by where they come from, not where they go. The term used when a wind is named for the direction or place from which it blows is simply wind, with the origin stated—think a north wind or a easterly wind. This naming convention reflects the source of the air, not the forces acting on it. The pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and friction are physical influences that shape wind speed and direction, but they aren’t how winds are named. For example, a north wind means air is blowing from the north toward the south.