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Aviation glossary

Ridge

What is ridge?

FAA handbook figure illustrating ridge

A ridge is an elongated area of high pressure, essentially the opposite of a trough, with no rotating wind motion around it. On a weather chart, it appears as an extended region where the air is sinking and pressure is relatively high. Think of it as a "ridgeline" of high pressure stretching across the map.

Also known as: ridge line, ridge of high pressure

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