Final answer:
Surface air flow around Northern Hemisphere high-pressure centers is directed clockwise due to the Coriolis force in combination with other atmospheric forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The air flow around Northern Hemisphere high-pressure centers is clockwise when viewed from above. This directionality is due to the combined influences of the horizontal pressure gradient, the Coriolis force, and friction. The clockwise rotation around high-pressure systems and the counterclockwise rotation around low-pressure systems, such as hurricanes, are major outcomes of these atmospheric forces.
The Coriolis force, in particular, causes winds to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, contributing to the characteristic clockwise pattern of air flow around high-pressure zones. Explaining this requires understanding of large-scale motion effects such as the Earth's rotation, which leads to the creation of the Coriolis force that affects wind systems on a global scale.