Which of the following describes a "Ridge" in atmospheric terms?

A "Ridge" in atmospheric terms refers to an area of high pressure. This phenomenon occurs when the air is generally descending—leading to clearer skies and more stable weather conditions. In meteorological terms, a ridge can typically be identified on weather maps as elongated areas where the atmospheric pressure is higher than the surrounding areas. These high-pressure zones influence weather patterns by inhibiting cloud formation and precipitation, allowing for clear weather over the region.

Ridges are essential in understanding forecasting and are often associated with warmer temperatures and calmer weather, as they suppress the development of storms and disturbances that might otherwise occur in regions of lower pressure. Understanding the dynamics of high-pressure systems, including ridges, is crucial for predicting weather behaviors and guiding flight operations.

The other options relate to different atmospheric phenomena. Areas of low pressure typically lead to stormy weather and cloud formation, lines of severe thunderstorms are associated with frontal systems rather than stable ridges, and temperature inversion layers describe conditions where temperature increases with altitude, which is different from the concept of a ridge in atmospheric pressure contexts.