Editing Azores (section)

===='Azores High' anticyclone====
The Azores archipelago is located in a transition and confrontation zone between air masses of tropical origin and masses of cooler air of polar origin. The climate of the archipelago is largely determined by variations in the atmospheric pressure field over the North Atlantic. These variations conditioned by the mass of the American Continent and the Atlantic water mass are overlapped by a semi-permanent subtropical Atlantic [[anticyclone]], commonly known as the [[Azores High]]. This anticyclone experiences seasonal variations which can affect the archipelago in many ways.

In winter, the Azores anticyclone is positioned further south, and allows for a descent of the [[Polar front]], approaching it to the archipelago. In summer, on the other hand, the anticyclone's movement further north, leads to the departure of the polar front and its associated disturbances towards higher latitudes. Far enough away from the mainland coasts, the continental air masses that reach the archipelago are weakened by the maritime influence.

[[File:Pico Volcano.jpg|thumb|left|Mount Pico covered with snow.]]
The same can not be said for the higher altitudes (e.g. [[Mount Pico]]), where upper air masses of a continental origin and with a more direct pathway can reach the surface and present those areas with drier air and more extreme temperatures. At the same time, this free atmosphere circulating air transports [[aerosol]]s to the archipelago, namely volcanic ash or fine sands from the [[Sahara]] desert, which sporadically affect the radiation and air quality.<ref name="enciclopedia" />

Daily maximum temperatures at low altitudes usually range between {{cvt|16|and|25|°C|0}}. The average annual rainfall generally increases from east to west, ranging from {{cvt|700|mm|0}} in Santa Maria to {{cvt|1600|mm|0}} in Flores and reaching values above {{cvt|5000|mm}} on the highlands of [[Pico Island|Pico]].<ref name="Climate of the Azores islands">{{cite web |title=Climate of the Azores islands |website=Azores Weather |url=http://www.azoresweather.com |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514035733/http://www.azoresweather.com/ |archive-date=14 May 2009}}</ref>