USCG Meteorology Practice Exam

In the context of maritime meteorology, the law of Buys Ballot provides a relationship between wind direction and the pressure gradient in a cyclonic system. When you are facing the wind in a cyclonic storm, the area of low pressure is always located to your left if you are in the Northern Hemisphere.

If you are steaming west with the wind dead ahead, this means you are facing east. Consequently, if you are standing with the wind blowing toward you (from the east), the center of low pressure, which is located on the left side of your position, would be to the north. This is consistent with the behavior of cyclonic systems, where the rotation of the storm causes air to flow counterclockwise around the low pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the positioning of the low pressure region as it relates to your current course and the orientation of the wind.