Subsidence (atmosphere)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with
Ground subsidence
.
Subsidence above the Congo River Basin including the Congo River and some tributaries. Note the lack of clouds above the rivers due to subsidence of colder air which precludes convection, convection being the inverse process to subsidence. Source: NASA [1]
Dosen barometer showing different kinds of weather, according to atmospheric pressure, being high pressure an indication of fair weather because of atmospheric subsidence, and being rapidly diminishing pressure, a sign to a bad weather system approaching.

In the

air parcel as it cools and becomes denser. By contrast, warm air becomes less dense and moves upwards (atmospheric convection
).

Subsidence generally creates a

prevailing winds
.

downdraft
.

Atmospheric pressure and atmospheric subsidence

The Dosen barometer (pictured) clearly relates high pressure with fine weather, as seen in its dial. This is because high pressure zones are subsidence zones, with dry and cool air descending and, therefore, clear skies and good weather.

See also

References

  1. ^ Cloudy Congo River Basin


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