What prevents air from flowing directly from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas?

The phenomenon that prevents air from flowing directly from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas is influenced by the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force arises from the rotation of the Earth, causing moving air and water to turn and twist rather than move in a straight line. This force affects the wind patterns and contributes to the development of large-scale weather systems.

Instead of moving directly from high to low-pressure zones, air is deflected, resulting in curved wind patterns. This is why we observe wind traveling in a circular path around high and low-pressure systems, rather than taking a direct route. The Coriolis effect plays a crucial role in shaping global wind patterns and is essential for the understanding of meteorology and atmospheric dynamics.

Friction affects wind speed near the Earth's surface and can alter wind direction in localized areas, while temperature inversions and wind shear are related to different atmospheric phenomena but do not primarily account for the deflection of air due to Earth's rotation.