Heat dome

Source: Indian Express

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Context

• The western US states are experiencing a dangerous heatwave because of a heat dome that has set new records and presented a clear example of climate change on weather.

Details

Key points:

• Western US is reeling under a heatwave affecting 75 million population.
• Record heat for California; Redding 48. 33°C, Ukiah at 47. 22°C and 51 for Palm Spring. 11°C.
• Heatwaves are made worse by global warming, heat islands become larger and more extreme.
• Future climate changes will probably increase the intensity of heat domes beyond the background climate changes.

What is a Heat Dome?:

• A mass of high pressure that holds hot air over a place.
• Forces, the way a lid covers a pot in order to minimize the circulation of warm air.
• Results in the formation of warm temperature regimes and continued visibility.

Causes of Heat Dome:

• Areas of high pressure that tend to push warm air close to the surface.
• The flow of jet stream on the arrangements with wave like pattern slows down or even become stationary.
• More sunlight as there will be lesser formation of clouds in the sky.
• Lack of humidity limiting evaporation and the formation of clouds.

Impacts of Heat Dome:

• Record-breaking temperatures and heatwaves.
• High heat increases the chances of forest fires and similar disasters that are related to dry weather.
• Focuses on the water and energy resources.
• Social costs such as people getting heat strokes and experiencing dehydration.

Historical Evidence of Heat Dome:

• June 2021: Wildfires in Australia and climate records in the north-western USA and Canada.
• July-August 2024: Record temperatures and fires in Turkey, Greece and Italy.
• July 2024: High temperatures for areas such as the cities of Redding, Ukiah, and Palm Springs in California.

Possible Links to Climate Change:

• Global warming causing heat islands that are more frequent and more severe.
• Increase in global temperatures as a cause of heat dome formation.
• Researches that suggest that global warming caused by human activities is also to blame for extreme heat episodes.

Way Forward:

• Prevention of the impacts of climate change to address heat dome occurrence.
• Better forewarnings of the weather conditions, and other related calamities.
• Use of heat action plans in the protection of the vulnerable groups.
• Studies on changes in the position of the jet stream and its association to climate change.

Sources:

Indian Express

Further reference:

About HEAT DOME (UPSC)| IAS GYAN