anticyklony

Anticyklony, also known as high-pressure systems, are large-scale atmospheric regions characterized by sinking air and consequently, higher atmospheric pressure at the surface. In the Northern Hemisphere, air flows clockwise around an anticyclone, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the flow is counterclockwise. This divergence of air at the surface leads to the sinking of air from higher altitudes.

As air sinks, it is compressed and warms adiabatically. This warming increases the air's capacity to hold moisture, leading to a decrease in relative humidity. Consequently, anticyclones are typically associated with fair weather conditions, clear skies, and light winds. Precipitation is generally absent or very light within an anticyclone due to the lack of rising, cooling air that would cause condensation.

Anticyclones can persist for several days or even weeks, influencing weather patterns over large areas. Their presence can lead to periods of stable weather, which can exacerbate heatwaves in summer due to prolonged sunshine and calm conditions, or contribute to cold snaps in winter as clear nights allow for significant radiative cooling. The center of an anticyclone is often a region of very light winds and can be a location where fog or mist forms under specific conditions, particularly during colder months when moisture is trapped near the surface.