The (North) Pacific (Hawaiian) High is a semipermanent cell of high pressure centered in the eastern Pacific from 35 to 45°N. It is one of the principal “centers of action” in the northern hemisphere, expanding in summer and contracting in winter.
As shown in Figure P1, the Pacific High has a July mean sealevel pressure of 1026 mb (30.3 in), analogous in pressure and dimensions to the Azores High, its Atlantic counterpart. The subtropical highs are one of the key elements of the Earth’s surface pressure. Their origin is not wholly understood, but it is believed that dynamic rather than direct thermal causes are foremost (Trewartha and Horne, 1980).
Average sea-level pressure in July.
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Cross-references
Airmass Climatology
Atmospheric Circulation, Global
Centers of Action
Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction
Zonal Index
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Hordon, R.M. (2005). Pacific (Hawaiian) High. In: Oliver, J.E. (eds) Encyclopedia of World Climatology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3266-8_156
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