As summer intensifies, the US faces a heat dome, a phenomenon trapping hot air like a lid on a pot, first observed in Mexico and now affecting the southern US.
What is a Heat Dome?
A heat dome occurs when the atmosphere captures hot ocean air, acting like an immovable lid, resulting in extreme heat due to stationary high-pressure systems.
Causes of Heat Domes
Heat domes stem from ocean temperature variations, where a strong temperature gradient causes warm air to rise, setting the stage for these intense heat events.
Climate Change Connection
Amidst rising global temperatures, heat domes have become more frequent and severe, a direct impact of ongoing climate change affecting our planet.
Ring of Fire Thunderstorms
Surrounding a heat dome, 'ring of fire thunderstorms' ignite, marked by severe weather patterns around the dome's edges, a dramatic display of nature’s force.
Devastating Effects
Heat domes bring high temperatures and humidity, leading to drought, heat exhaustion, and severe threats to health, agriculture, and wildlife.
Heat Dome vs. Heatwave
Unlike heatwaves, which are periods of hot weather, heat domes involve a stationary high-pressure system that escalates the weather's severity.