Which weather pattern is characterized by prolonged high pressure?

The phenomenon defined by prolonged high pressure is an anticyclone. An anticyclone is a weather system where high pressure at the surface is associated with descending air that often leads to clear skies and calm conditions. This stable atmospheric condition typically results in the absence of significant cloud formation and precipitation, making the weather dry and settled over a given area for an extended period.

Anticyclones can be extensive, covering large geographical areas and persisting for several days or even weeks. This leads to a characteristic weather pattern where the atmospheric pressure remains high, contributing to a lack of storms and precipitation.

In contrast, other options like cyclones and depressions are associated with low pressure and typically lead to stormy weather and precipitation. A monsoon, while it refers to a seasonal wind pattern that can bring heavy rainfall, does not specifically indicate prolonged high pressure but rather involves the contrasting influence of dry and wet seasons driven by shifts in atmospheric pressure systems.