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Pacific High

A semi-permanent high pressure region centered in the mid North Pacific, roughly west of San Francisco (mean center between 30-40° N and 140-150° W. As with its counterpart the Atlantic High, its stability and intensity are stronger in the summer than in the winter, firming up in late July and August. Summer peaks are about 1030 mb with the diameter of the 1020 isobar varying from about 600 to 900 nautical miles. See G159. This example shows the High north of its average position.

Clockwise circulation around the High dictates the sailing routes across the Pacific as there can be hundreds of miles of calm air in the center of it. The firmness of the High has significant influence on the motion of weather patterns across the ocean. See blocking High.


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