With reference to air movement between pressure areas, consider the following statements: 1. Air tends to move horizontally from regions of higher pressure toward regions of lower pressure. 2. The greater the pressure gradient between two places, the stronger the resulting wind speed tends to be. 3. If the pressure at two locations is the same, there is no horizontal pressure gradient force between them. Which of the above statements are correct?

Introduction / Context:
Wind is the horizontal movement of air, and its behaviour is largely controlled by differences in pressure between places. The pressure gradient force is the primary force that initiates wind. This question asks you to evaluate three statements about how air moves between pressure areas and how the strength of the pressure gradient relates to wind speed.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are looking at large scale air flow in the lower atmosphere.
• Pressure differences exist between different locations at roughly the same altitude.
• Other forces such as Coriolis and friction may modify direction but do not change the basic high to low tendency.
• The term pressure gradient refers to the change in pressure over a horizontal distance.

Concept / Approach:
Air responds to imbalances in pressure. When pressure varies between two locations, a pressure gradient force arises, pointing from high pressure toward low pressure. This force sets air into motion, producing wind. The magnitude of the pressure gradient force depends on how large the pressure difference is and how small the distance is between the two points. Strong gradients (large differences over short distances) create strong winds. If pressures are equal, the horizontal pressure gradient force is zero and cannot by itself generate wind between those points.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
On weather maps, closely spaced isobars indicate strong pressure gradients and often correspond to strong winds, such as in mid latitude storms. Where isobars are widely spaced or nearly uniform, winds are gentle or calm, confirming statements 1 and 2. In a perfectly uniform high pressure field with the same pressure everywhere, there would be no horizontal pressure gradient and hence no wind generated by this force alone, which confirms statement 3.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options A, B, and C include only two statements and omit one that is also correct, so they are incomplete. Option E keeps only statement 1 and ignores the essential relationship between gradient strength and wind speed and the idea that equal pressures provide no gradient. Therefore none of these options fully represent the correct set of statements.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to think that air always moves from cold to warm or from high to low altitude instead of focusing on pressure differences. Another pitfall is forgetting that equal pressure implies no horizontal pressure gradient force, even though winds can still exist due to inertia or other forces. Always remember that the pressure gradient force is the initial driver of wind.

Final Answer:
Because all three statements correctly describe the role of pressure gradients in air movement, statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.