What is a depression?

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A depression refers to a low-pressure weather system that typically leads to unsettled and often stormy weather conditions. These systems are associated with rising air, which cools and condenses, leading to cloud formation and precipitation. As the air rises within a depression, it creates an area of lower atmospheric pressure, which usually results in wind being drawn into the system to fill the void. This influx of air often contributes to overcast skies, rainfall, and can even produce severe weather like storms in certain situations.

In contrast, high-pressure systems are generally associated with clear skies and dry weather, which is why a depression is recognized by its characteristic low pressure and the resultant weather effects. While stable weather patterns usually occur in high-pressure systems, and high humidity is unrelated to the definition of a depression, the identification of a depression as a low-pressure area is fundamentally important in understanding meteorological concepts and forecasting weather changes.

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