ANTICYCLONE

AND OTHER
PRESSURE
MEMBERS:
SYSTEMS
ALGECERA, AMBAHAN, ARGUELLES, BALDON, BALDOZA,
BESARES, BUENAVISTA, CARANDANG, CASTAO, CELLE
Q: WHAT ARE PRESSURE
SYSTEMS?
A: Pressure systems are areas on the
surface of the earth where the
atmospheric pressure is not normal
for that place due to change in the
condition of the atmosphere, mainly
caused by changes in temperature.
 WHAT IS AN
ANTICYCLONE?
ANTICYCLONE
An Anticyclone is the opposite of a
depression (low pressure).
The wind circulation around the systems
is clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
and counterclockwise in the Southern
Hemisphere.
ANTICYCLONE
Anticyclones have weak pressure
gradients that is why winds are generally
light.
Since the air in an anticyclone is subsiding
the sky has very little clouds if any.
The air in a depression is warm and rising
so that the sky is cloudy.
 An anticyclone off
the southern
coast of Australia.
(Photo by NASA)
OTHER PRESSURE
SYSTEMS
- THEY ALL COME FROM A
MODIFICATION OF A
DEPRESSION AND AN
ANTICYCLONE
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
Also called Wedge,
is an extension of an
anticyclone formed
by elongated isobars
extending outwards
from the center of
high pressure.
A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE
The passage of a Ridge between
depressions brings intervals of fair weather
between the periods of rain or showers
associated with the fronts and the
depression.
After the passage of the axis of the ridge
over the observers position the weather
deteriorates progressively.
A TROUGH OF LOW
PRESSURE
or V-shaped depression is
identified by the
arrangement of the isobars
that are elongated isobars
from a low pressure
extending into a high
pressure area, usually
points toward the equator.
COL
A Col is a region enclosed between two
diametrically opposite high pressure areas
and two low pressure areas.
In a Col the weather changes rapidly. The
wind is light and variable and it is an area
where fog or thunderstorms may occur.
 The typical features of pressure distribution of an
Anticyclone and Depression in the Northern
Hemisphere is shown in the diagram below.
The wind arrows show that the wind is stronger
towards the center of low pressure but weaker
towards the center of high pressure. In the Southern
Hemisphere the wind direction is reversed but the
strength is the same.
Note that relative to the isobars the wind is inclined
inward towards the center of low pressure but
outward from the center of high pressure. This is true
in both hemispheres.
THATS ALL! THANKS!