Convergence and Diffluence in troughs and ridges

The question
you explained that a convergent trough can give rise to a high pressure area - so can
divergence at a ridge form a low-pressure area?
Starting with the basic diagram of the jet flow at its entrance and exit. Call it the Jet
Stream or the Jet Streak, both mean the same.

We can split the flow pattern into two types

Cyclonic and Anti-cyclonic and then show them to be either Confluent or Diffluent.
Air flowing along the top line is cyclonic with air on the bottom line having an
anticyclonic flow.
All confluence means is that the particle of air is accelerated as it moves into
confluence or is decelerated as it enters an area of diffluence, much as the diagram
above shows.
So to split them to each type and allocate whether it is an area of falling pressure or
rising pressure that is the major player in each of the four cases.
Diffluent trough

Confluent trough

Diffluent ridge

Confluent ridge

If we show each of them with their areas of rising (A) or falling (C) surface pressure
first. The dotted line in each case marks the position of the trough line.

If the two areas showing C as the main development are put together, then its
possible to see that a confluent ridge followed by a diffluent trough at the entrance
and exit to the jet stream/streak will lead to C being the dominant effect. This is the
pattern in the upper air when we see a major low developing.
So on a weather chart showing the upper air pattern look for a confluent ridge with
signs of low pressure forming at the right entrance and the trough at the end of the
strongest winds (jet stream/streak) to be diffluent for the surface low to start to exit
under the left exit where it usually deepens rapidly. Why does it tend to do this rather
than stay on the right hand side, very complex as usual, Ill leave it for another day, or
read the links shown below?
For A to be dominant then we need a diffluent ridge followed by a confluent trough
for A to be the dominant effect-forming high pressure.
In all the four cases shown then ageostrophic motion, the Sutcliffe development
theory and vorticity all can be used to show these effects in theory which we see in
practice.

You have to remember that it is not only the pattern of isobars at the surface along
with the contour lines at higher level but the advection of temperatures, at the surface
and in the upper atmosphere which are needed to decide when, if, where development
of lows or highs will take place. Most of this item is about the development and
deepening of surface lows in the Atlantic. For surface high pressure developments
some indication is given but Ive not made as much of that side as the low side.
I suppose in summary and very simplistically we could say ahead of upper troughs is
where the major development of a surface low will occur. To the rear of the upper
trough will be where the surface high is going to form.
It really is very complex and for anyone who wishes to pursue this further then below
is a number of links that may help unravel this.
Sutcliffe theory=this link gives several links that may help you understand the work
this eminent British meteorologist did-the basis prior to computers of forecasting the
development of low pressure systems in the Atlantic and prior to the development of
the theory of vorticity. It deals with the question of ageostrophic motion as well.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:enUS&ei=0PSTS5iJOZOM0gSkrbnyDA&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=1&ct=result&cd=1
&ved=0CBMQBSgA&q=sutcliffe+theory+in+meteorology&spell=1
for vorticity=there are many links here but I warn you its even more complex than
the Sutcliffe version
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3AenUS&q=vorticity+theory+in+meteorology&btnG=Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=
Hopefully most questions about the development of Atlantic lows are answered either
in my simplistic text/diagrams or in the subsequent reading.