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High pressure and low pressure systems refer to regions where the atmospheric pressure is either higher or lower than the surrounding areas. These systems greatly influence weather patterns.
In a high pressure system, also known as an anticyclone, the air is descending or sinking. This means that the air pressure is higher when compared to its surroundings. Sinking air inhibits the formation of clouds, leading to clear skies and stable weather conditions. Because the air tends to move from high to low-pressure areas, winds blow outward from the center of a high pressure system. Due to the Coriolis effect, the wind flows clockwise around the system in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Conversely, a low pressure system, or a cyclone, is characterized by ascending or rising air. As the air rises, it cools and can form clouds and precipitation, which often leads to more stormy and unsettled weather conditions. Winds in a low pressure system rotate inward toward the center, and due to the Coriolis effect, they spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.