Subsidence (atmosphere)

In meteorology, subsidence is the downward movement of an air parcel as it cools and becomes denser.

By contrast, warm air becomes less dense and moves upwards (atmospheric convection).

Subsidence also causes many smaller-scale weather phenomena, such as morning fog; on the other hand, its absence may cause air stagnation.

An extreme form of subsidence is a downburst, which can result in damage similar to that produced by a tornado.

The Dosen barometer (pictured) clearly relates high pressure with fine weather, as seen in its dial.

Subsidence above the Congo River Basin including the Congo River and some tributaries. Note the lack of clouds above the rivers due to subsidence of colder air which precludes convection, convection being the inverse process to subsidence. Source: NASA [ 1 ]
Dosen barometer showing different kinds of weather, according to atmospheric pressure, being high pressure an indication of fair weather because of atmospheric subsidence, and being rapidly diminishing pressure, a sign to a bad weather system approaching.