What is the difference between zonal and meridional wind flow and how do we apply this to a question?

The main difference between the two is that zonal wind flows along latitude lines, from west to east and vice versa, while meridional wind flows along longitude lines, north to south and vice versa. These can really be applied to any atmospheric movement which follows any of the two pathways as a form of describing the flow accurately. Nevertheless, it can very easily be applied to two relevant global atmospheric circulation systems that are covered in the GCSE and certainly A level Geography syllabus. Zonal can be linked to questions on ENSO (reversal in the direction of the meridional flow) and the Walker cell circulation Pattern more widely, transporting energy across the Pacific along the Equator. Meridional flow can be linked to the model of the Hadley Cells, transporting energy poleward from the equator which links into questions about tropical and extratropical storms.