American Meteorological Society Certification (AMS) Practice

Wind primarily moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, and this movement is driven by the pressure gradient force. When air moves from regions of higher pressure to regions of lower pressure, the pressure difference creates a force that accelerates the wind. This acceleration occurs because the air is moving to equalize the pressure differences in the atmosphere.

As the wind travels into lower-pressure zones, it may also interact with other atmospheric forces, such as the Coriolis effect and friction, but the fundamental action of moving from high to low pressure results in the wind gaining speed or accelerating. This process is essential in weather patterns, where the strength of the wind can influence the formation and movement of weather systems.

The other options do not accurately describe the behavior of wind in this context. For example, wind does not remain constant in speed or direction when it travels from high to low pressure, and a random change in direction is not typical of such a transition. Additionally, while air movement can lead to temperature changes, the act of wind moving from high to low pressure does not directly imply a decrease in temperature.