Module 13 - Meteorology
Pressure Systems
Active recall
Section 4 of 6
Which term means “same unit”?
High pressure (anticyclone) brings generally settled, fair weather with light winds. Wind circulates clockwise around a high in the northern hemisphere. Low pressure (depression or cyclone) brings unsettled, wet, windy weather. Wind circulates anticlockwise around a low in the northern hemisphere.
Isobars are lines of equal pressure on a synoptic chart. Closely spaced isobars mean strong winds; widely spaced isobars mean light winds. The closer the isobars, the steeper the pressure gradient, and the stronger the wind.
Key points
- High pressure = fair weather, light winds, clockwise circulation (N hemisphere)
- Low pressure = unsettled, windy, anticlockwise circulation (N hemisphere)
- Close isobars = strong winds
- Wide isobars = light winds
- Pressure measured in millibars (mb) or hectopascals (hPa) — same unit
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