Anticyclone
Anticyclone
Anticyclone (pronunciation: /æntiˈsaɪ.kloʊn/) is a meteorological term used to describe a large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Etymology
The term "Anticyclone" is derived from the Greek words "anti" meaning "against" and "kyklon" meaning "moving in a circle". It was first used in the mid-19th century to describe weather phenomena that were opposite to cyclones.
Description
Anticyclones are associated with settled, fine weather. In the absence of fronts, the winds are light. The barometric pressure at the center of an anticyclone is higher than the surrounding area, leading to subsidence, or sinking air, which causes warming and drying.
Related Terms
- Cyclone: A system of winds rotating inwards to an area of low barometric pressure, with an anticlockwise (or counterclockwise) circulation in the northern hemisphere.
- High-pressure area: A region where the atmospheric pressure at the surface of the planet is greater than its surrounding environment.
- Weather front: A boundary separating two masses of air of different densities.
- Barometric pressure: The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, which at sea level has a mean value of 1013 millibars (about 14.7 pounds per square inch).
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Anticyclone
- Wikipedia's article - Anticyclone
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