Question 1170Navigation General

The correct answer is D) rotation of the earth. The direction of the southeast trade winds is a result of the Coriolis effect, which is caused by the rotation of the earth. As the earth rotates, it creates a deflection of air masses, causing the trade winds to flow in a southeasterly direction. This is because the Coriolis effect causes air masses to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The other options are incorrect because they do not directly explain the cause of the direction of the southeast trade winds. Humidity, equatorial currents, and changes in seasons can influence wind patterns, but they do not directly determine the direction of the southeast trade winds, which is primarily a result of the Coriolis effect.