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Heat Domes
Context:
A severe heatwave has engulfed the entire western United States since last week, affecting nearly 75 million people with widespread heat alerts and record-breaking temperatures.
Heat Dome Phenomenon:
- Definition: A heat dome occurs when a high-pressure system in the atmosphere traps warm air, acting like a lid on a pot, for an extended period.
- Effect on Weather: Prevents warm air from rising, keeping skies clear and reducing cloud formation, which limits rain.
- Impact on Temperature: Allows more sunlight to reach the earth, intensifying warming and drying of soil, leading to hotter conditions.
- Duration and Intensity: The longer a heat dome persists in one place, the more intense and prolonged the heatwave becomes.
Role of Jet Stream:
- Function: Normally moves weather systems across the Earth’s surface due to its fast-moving air patterns.
- Formation of Heat Domes: When the jet stream’s wave-like pattern becomes elongated and slows down, it can cause a high-pressure system to stagnate, resulting in a heat dome.
Climate Change Impact:
- Increased Size and Intensity: Climate change has amplified heat dome events, making them larger and more severe.
- Scientific Findings: Studies indicate that human-caused climate change has made extreme temperatures during heat dome events more likely and intense.
- Research Insights: Recent studies suggest that the intensity of heat domes is increasing faster than the overall rate of global warming, highlighting climate change’s role in exacerbating these events.