3.2.6 In a paragraph of approximately EIGHT lines, explain how the geostrophic wind develops.

The geostrophic wind develops as a result of the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force acting on moving air. When air begins to move from high to low pressure, the pressure gradient force accelerates it. However, as the wind speeds up, the Coriolis effect—caused by the Earth's rotation—starts to deflect the wind to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection continues until the wind reaches a balance between these two forces, resulting in a flow that is parallel to the isobars, rather than directly from high to low pressure. Consequently, the geostrophic wind flows along the contour lines of pressure on the weather map, reflecting the underlying pressure systems without being influenced by friction, making it most prevalent in the upper levels of the atmosphere.