With reference to high-pressure and low-pressure areas on surface maps, consider the following statements: 1. High-pressure areas are generally associated with subsiding (sinking) air and relatively clear, stable weather conditions. 2. Low-pressure areas are generally associated with rising air and a greater likelihood of cloud formation and precipitation. 3. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds near the surface tend to blow clockwise around high-pressure centers and counterclockwise around low-pressure centers (when viewed from above). Which of the above statements is or are correct?

Introduction / Context:
High-pressure and low-pressure systems dominate weather maps and are closely tied to vertical air motion and wind patterns. Recognising how these systems behave helps in forecasting conditions such as clear skies, storms, and wind directions. This question brings together three important aspects: vertical motion, weather type, and the sense of rotation of winds around highs and lows in the Northern Hemisphere.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are looking at surface pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Earth's rotation and friction are taken into account in a qualitative way.
• High-pressure areas (anticyclones) and low-pressure areas (cyclones) are well developed.
• We are concerned with general tendencies, not small local exceptions.

Concept / Approach:
High-pressure areas typically involve air that sinks from higher altitudes. As it descends, the air warms and dries, inhibiting cloud formation, which leads to clearer and more stable weather. Low-pressure areas involve rising air. Rising air cools, water vapor condenses, and clouds and precipitation are more likely. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force and friction cause winds to circulate clockwise around highs and counterclockwise around lows when viewed from above, a fundamental rule in synoptic meteorology.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Weather charts for the Northern Hemisphere consistently show clear skies and dry conditions under strong anticyclones, confirming statement 1. Cyclones and depressions, which are low-pressure systems, are associated with cloud bands and rainfall, confirming statement 2. The observed wind patterns on synoptic charts show clockwise flow around highs and counterclockwise flow around lows north of the equator, supporting statement 3.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A includes only statement 1 and ignores the correct and important behaviours described in statements 2 and 3. Option B leaves out the rotation pattern in statement 3. Option C omits the key role of subsidence in high-pressure areas described in statement 1. Option E keeps only the rotational rule and ignores the equally correct descriptions of vertical motion and weather.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is reversing the sense of rotation for highs and lows or confusing Northern and Southern Hemisphere patterns. Another pitfall is assuming that high-pressure always means perfect weather, while in reality local factors like inversions or pollution can produce haze or fog. Nonetheless, the general tendencies described in the three statements hold true.

Final Answer:
All three statements correctly describe the nature of high-pressure and low-pressure systems on surface maps, so statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.