lavtryk

Lavtryk is a meteorological term used in Danish to denote a low-pressure weather system. It refers to an area where atmospheric pressure at the surface is lower than in surrounding regions, typically with a defined center of rotation. In practical meteorology, lavtryk are the main drivers of unsettled weather and are contrasted with højtryk, or high-pressure systems.

Formation and structure: They form through cyclogenesis, often along weather fronts or troughs, with warm air rising in the center, leading to condensation, cloud formation and precipitation. In the Northern Hemisphere, the air around a lavtryk generally circulates counterclockwise, with winds converging toward the center; in the Southern Hemisphere the circulation is clockwise. The central pressure of a lavtryk varies, but weather forecasters commonly discuss values around or below 1013 hPa, with deeper systems having lower central pressures.

Weather and impacts: Lavtryk are often associated with rain or snowfall, variable wind, and occasionally strong storms, especially when they intensify or interact with jet streams. They can bring fronts and weather fronts that cause rapid changes in temperature and precipitation. Regions in Europe and other temperate zones frequently experience lavtryk as part of mid-latitude cyclone activity.

Forecasting and terminology: Forecasters track lavtryk using surface pressure charts, satellite imagery, and numerical models. Isobars around a lavtryk indicate wind strength; the movement and development of a lavtryk depend on larger-scale weather patterns.

Etymology and related terms: The word lavtryk is a compound of Danish words lav (low) andtryk (pressure). In other Scandinavian languages it appears as lavtrykk (Norwegian) or lågtryck (Swedish). The general English equivalent is low-pressure system.