What keeps the air moving counterclockwise in relation to a low-pressure center?

The movement of air counterclockwise around a low-pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is primarily due to the combination of pressure gradients and the Coriolis effect resulting from Earth's rotation. The pressure gradient force initiates the movement of air from high to low-pressure areas, and as this air starts to move, the Coriolis effect, which is a result of Earth's rotation, causes this motion to curve. In the Northern Hemisphere, this curvature results in a counterclockwise rotation around low-pressure systems.

Centripetal force is involved in maintaining the circular path of the air as it rotates around the low-pressure area, essentially keeping the air moving in a curved trajectory instead of moving in a straight line. However, the question specifically asks about the nature of the air movement related to the flow pattern around a low-pressure center, which is fundamentally governed by the Coriolis effect's influence in conjunction with the pressure gradient force.

Therefore, the correct understanding of why air moves counterclockwise around a low-pressure system is primarily tied to how Earth's rotation impacts wind direction through the Coriolis effect, which causes moving air to turn left in the Northern Hemisphere and right in the Southern Hemisphere, thereby creating the characteristic rotation around low-pressure centers.