The Structure of Steady-State Anticyclones

Abstract

It is found that symmetrical anticyclones of the Australian region exhibit roughly similar pressure profiles. The total pressure rise within a high is approximately proportional to the area covered by the disturbance, large systems in higher latitudes being more intense than small systems in lower latitudes. These structural properties are shown to be a consequence of the requirement for gradient-wind balance within an anticyclone, which requirement is shown to limit the intensity of a high of specified size. The theory indicates that the variation of the size of anticyclones should be restricted, and that disturbances in higher latitudes should have higher mean intensities. Both these requirements are borne out by observation.