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

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Discuss the phenomenon of heat domes, explaining their formation and the role of the jet stream. How do heat domes contribute to extreme weather events, and what implications do they have for public health and infrastructure?