Severe & Hazardous Weather  Active Learning Exercises – Ed 4 Exercise 8.4 

High and Low Pressure Centers Characteristics of high‐ and low‐pressure centers in the Northern Hemisphere are listed below. In each case, indicate by H or L whether the statement applies to high‐ or low‐pressure centers. If a statement is valid for both types of centers, place both H and L in the blank space.

1. _____ Surface winds are divergent.

2. _____ Winds blow counter‐clockwise.

3. _____ Favored by cooling of an air column.

4. _____ Lower pressure is to the left of the winds.

5. _____ Winds spiral inward toward the pressure center.

6. _____ Generally located to the east of an upper‐air trough.

7. _____ Surface winds are deflected to the left of the isobars.

8. _____ Associated with convergence in the upper troposphere.

9. _____ Pressure gradient force points away from the pressure center.

10. _____ Associated with subsidence, dry air and generally clear skies.

11. _____ Vertical motions are downward above the surface pressure center.

12. _____ Wind speeds (in the absence of friction) are slower than geostrophic.

13. _____ Release of latent heat favors intensification of the surface pressure center.

14. _____ Clouds and precipitation generally occur above the surface pressure center.