Sub tropical anti-cyclones

• South Atlantic high pressure cell is found on the western side of South Africa
• The South Indian high pressure is found on the eastern side of south africa
• Kalahari high pressure cell is found inland
• general characteristics of the SAHP

  • found on the west coast
  • brings clear, stable and dry conditions because of the Atlantic ocean which has cold ocean current. temperatures of the Atlantic ocean are low which means we will be having more of the subsiding of air
  • winds that blow over the Atlantic ocean produce cold dry winds
  • known as a ridging cell
• general characteristics of the SIHP

  • found on the east coast
  • known as blocking high; responsible for the for blocking tropical cyclones that develop in the Indian ocean
  • winds that blow over the Indian ocean are warm and moist so they bring rainfall during the summer season
• general characteristics of KH

  • found in the interior of south Africa
  • very dominant in the winter season
  • interacts with the SIHP to influence the climate of south Africa during the winter and summer season
• When the SIHP is very close the coast it means that it is the winter season as it will not get enough time to get moisture and it will move a short distance going towards the inland
• During the winter season the will be the dominance of the KH in the interior therefor we will be having offshore winds

  • offshore winds are winds that move from land to ocean, mainly occur in the winter season
  • onshore winds are winds that move from the ocean to the land and mainly occur in the summer season, give raise to rainfall as they come with them with moisture from the ocean