Final answer:
In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis force causes surface wind to circulate in a clockwise direction around a high-pressure air mass, leading to clear skies due to the sinking air.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the northern hemisphere, surface wind circulates in a clockwise direction around a high-pressure air mass. This is due to the Coriolis force, which deflects winds to the right in the northern hemisphere. As the air moves away from the high-pressure zone, it's deflected to the right, which results in clockwise circulation. In contrast, in low-pressure systems, such as hurricanes, air flows inward and is deflected to the right, causing a counterclockwise rotation. High-pressure zones typically lead to sinking air which produces clear skies, compared to the rising air and cloud formation in low-pressure systems that are quite visible from space.