New
New
Anticyclones
I can explain the weather associated with an anticyclone, and its impact on people and the environment.
Lesson 8 of 14
New
New
- Year 7
Anticyclones
I can explain the weather associated with an anticyclone, and its impact on people and the environment.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- High pressure systems, when air is sinking, are called anticyclones.
- Anticyclones are characterised by dry, stable weather.
- Anticyclones have very gentle winds shown by widely spaced isobars on a weather map.
- Anticyclones can bring summer heatwaves and very cold conditions in winter.
Keywords
Impact - to have an effect on someone or something
Pressure - a force pushing or pressing on a given area
Heatwave - a prolonged period of abnormally hot weather
Common misconception
The weather associated with an anticyclone stays the same all year around.
Students will analyse images to identify how anticyclones may bring different weather in the summer and winter.
High-pressure systems cause air to move outward and downward in a clockwise direction (in the Northern Hemisphere) or counterclockwise (in the Southern Hemisphere). You could use a spinning top to demonstrate the rotational motion.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1. describes the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere.
describes the day-to-day condition of the atmosphere.
Q2. is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.
is the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area.
Q3.What is Earth's atmosphere made of?
What is Earth's atmosphere made of?
Oceans and seas
Solid rock and minerals
Q4.Which weather pattern is typically associated with calm conditions?
Which weather pattern is typically associated with calm conditions?
Low pressure systems
Stormy pressure systems
Q5.How can weather impact human activities?
How can weather impact human activities?
Make plants grow slower
Change the colour of the sky
Q6.What is a heatwave?
What is a heatwave?
A prolonged period of abnormally cold weather
A prolonged period of abnormally cloudy weather
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the main characteristic of an anticyclone?
What is the main characteristic of an anticyclone?
constant rainfall
low atmospheric pressure
Q2.How do anticyclones affect weather conditions?
How do anticyclones affect weather conditions?
they lead to heavy rain
they cause storms and high winds
Q3.What impact do anticyclones have in summer?
What impact do anticyclones have in summer?
they cause snowstorms
they lead to hurricanes
Q4.In winter, what kind of weather is associated with an anticyclone?
In winter, what kind of weather is associated with an anticyclone?
grey skys due to lots of clouds
mild warm weather
