The Highs and Lows of Air Pressure

A low pressure system has lower pressure at its center than the areas around it.

 Winds blow towards the low pressure, and the air rises in the atmosphere where they meet.
 low pressure is associated with rising air.
 low pressure system swirl counterclockwise north of the equator and clockwise south of the
equator. (cyclonic flow) Because of Earth’s spin and the Coriolis Effect, 
 bad weather

A high pressure system has higher pressure at its center than the areas around it.

 Wind blows away from high pressure.

 clockwise north of the equator and counterclockwise south of the equator.( anticyclonic flow)
 good weather
CORIOLIS EFFECT
Phenomenon that causes fluids, like water and air, to curve as they travel
across or above earth surface.

7 Types of Weather in a High Pressure System

1. The origin of a high-pressure zone will determine the type of weather to come.
 If a high-pressure zone moves in from the south, the weather is usually warm
and clear in the summer. 
 a high-pressure zone originating from the north will usually bring cold weather in
the winter months.
2. Winds blow away from a high-pressure zone. 
 wind speeds are calculated based on the pressure gradient produced when air
pressure lines called isobars are drawn on a weather map. The closer the isobar
lines, the higher the wind speed.
3. The column of air above a high-pressure zone is moving downwards. 
4. Due to the Coriolis effect, winds in a high-pressure zone blow clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
5. Weather in a high-pressure system is usually drier. As the sinking air increases in
pressure and temperature, the number of clouds in the sky decreases leaving less
chance for precipitation
6. The speed at which air pressure increases will determine the type of weather an area
can expect.
 If the air pressure rises very quickly, the calm weather and clear skies will
generally be over as quickly as they came.
 An abrupt rise in pressure can indicate a short-lived high-pressure zone with a
stormy low-pressure zone behind it.
7. Reduced air quality is common in a high-pressure zone.
 The wind speeds in a high-pressure zone tend to decrease 
 the winds move away from a high-pressure zone.