Coordinates: 34.0000°N 30.

0000°W

Azores High
The Azores High (Portuguese: Anticiclone dos Açores) also known as North Atlantic (Subtropical) High/Anticyclone or the
Bermuda-Azores High, is a large subtropical semi-permanent centre of high atmospheric pressure typically found south of the
Azores in the Atlantic Ocean, at the Horse latitudes. It forms one pole of the North Atlantic oscillation, the other being the Icelandic
Low. The system influences the weather and climatic patterns of vast areas of North Africa and southern Europe, and to a lesser
extent, eastern North America. The aridity of the Sahara Desert and the summer drought of the Mediterranean Basin is due to the
large-scale subsidence and sinking motion of air in the system. In its summer position (the Bermuda High), the high is centered near
Bermuda, and creates a southwest flow of warm tropical air toward the East Coast of the United States. In summer, the Azores-
Bermuda High is strongest. Thecentral pressure hovers around 1024 mbar (hPa).

Tropical wave formation on the Atlantic Ocean.

This high-pressure block exhibits anticyclonic nature, circulating the airclockwise. Due to this direction of movement,African eastern
waves are impelled along the southern periphery of the Azores High away from coastal West Africa towards the Caribbean, Central
America, or the Bahamas, favouring tropical cyclogenesis, especially during thehurricane season.

Variations
Research into global warming suggests that it may be intensifying the Bermuda High in some years, independently of oscillations such
as ENSO, leading to more precipitation extremes across the Southeastern United States. Latitudinal displacement of the ridge is also
occurring, and computer models depict more westward expansion of the anticyclone in the future.[1][2] However, during the winter of
2009–2010, the Azores High was smaller, displaced to the northeast and weaker than usual, allowing sea surface temperatures in the
Central Atlantic to increase quickly.[3]

See also
Hadley cell
Cold front
Mediterranean tropical cyclone

References
"The Azores High". WeatherOnline Weather facts. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
 "Azores high". Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on 26 October
2006. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
"Bermuda high". Glossary of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on 19 October
2006. Retrieved 2006-11-19.

1. Lucas, Tim. "Variable southeast summer rainfall linked toclimate change" (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/20
10-10/du-vss102710.php). Duke University. EurekAlert!. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20101030014150/htt
p://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/du-vss102710.php) from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved
29 October 2010.
2. Li, Wenhong; Laifang Li; Rong Fu; Yi Deng; Hui Wang (October 4, 2010)."Changes to the North Atlantic Subtropical
High and Its Role in the Intensification of Summer Rainfall aVriability in the Southeastern United States"(http://journal
s.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/2010JCLI3829.1?journalCode=clim) . American Meteorological Society. 24 (5): 1499–
1506. Bibcode:2011JCli...24.1499L (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011JCli...24.1499L) .
doi:10.1175/2010JCLI3829.1(https://doi.org/10.1175%2F2010JCLI3829.1) . ISSN 1520-0442 (https://www.worldcat.or
g/issn/1520-0442). Retrieved 29 October 2010.
3. Publications, RMS. "2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season Review and 2010 Season Outlook"(http://www.rms.com/Publica
tions/RMS_2009_Season_Review_and_2010_Outlook_public.pdf)(PDF). Risk Management Solutions. RMS
Catastrophe Response.Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20101008121713/http://rms.com/Publications/RMS_20
09_Season_Review_and_2010_Outlook_public.pdf)(PDF) from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved
29 October 2010.

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