Why do surface winds blow from a high-pressure area toward a nearby low-pressure area?

Concept overview / definition Wind at the surface is simply moving air driven mainly by differences in pressure between neighbouring regions. Heating over one area makes air rise and lowers the pressure there, while cooler, denser air elsewhere tends to sink and create higher pressure. The pressure gradient between these high-pressure and low-pressure areas pushes air horizontally, generating surface winds that link the rising and sinking branches of the circulation.

Why the correct option is correct The correct option explains that rising air over a low-pressure area removes some air from the near-surface layers, creating a deficit. To compensate, air from the surrounding high-pressure area, where the air column is heavier, is pushed in horizontally to fill that space. This replacement flow from high pressure to low pressure is what we observe as surface wind, and it keeps the circulation between rising and sinking regions going in a continuous cycle.

Why the other options are incorrect Option A is incorrect because winds do not simply move from colder to warmer regions; they follow pressure gradients, and temperature only matters through its effect on pressure. Option C is wrong since humidity differences alone do not drive large-scale winds in the way described, and high humidity does not automatically push air toward drier areas. Option D is incorrect because the Earth's rotation (Coriolis force) deflects winds but does not reverse the basic rule that surface winds go from high pressure toward low pressure.

UPSC exam tip / common confusion A common mistake in prelims is to focus only on temperature words in a question and ignore pressure. When solving such questions, first identify where pressure is high and where it is low, then state that surface winds move from high to low pressure and only afterwards bring in rotation or local effects. This simple sequence helps you avoid being trapped by cleverly worded options that reverse the wind direction or overemphasise temperature and humidity.