What Is The Heat Dome?

The climate crisis is the undisputed reality of our present and future. Earth due to human-induced triggers It’s becoming a warmer place. According to experts, the average temperature worldwide has increased by 1.1 degrees and will continue to do so unless carbon emissions are brought under control.

1.1 degrees may not sound like a very high increase. But this is an average value and actually It has more impact than you might imagine. Increasing in number and prolonging heat waves around the world brings with it an increase in drought seasons, forest fires, and excessive precipitation and floods in some regions.

People really ‘die from the heat’

When we go to the market and have a hard time enduring until we come home, and when we come home and go in front of the air conditioner ‘I died from the heat’ The moments we say are actually nothing. Because people all over the world are really dying from the heat.

The reason for the increase in deaths due to high temperatures is, more frequent and prolonged heat waves. One of the reasons why heat waves are so intense is the weather phenomenon called the heat dome. This concept, which we have heard more often in recent days, especially after the extreme heat and deaths in Europe and America, it almost creates ‘hell’ above the ground.

So what is this heat dome?

The heat dome, in its simplest definition, is this area of ​​hot air in a region where the pressure is high. We can say that it condenses by pressing down under the influence of pressure. In other words, the high pressure acts as a kind of ‘dome’, trapping the hot air inside, creating an inactive and high humidity air. When all these come together, a much higher temperature than normal is formed.

Some experts liken the situation to ‘a pot lid trapping hot air and circulating it inside the pot’. When investigating what causes heat domes to form, it is behind it. jet winds and high temperature changes in the oceans it seems to be.

jet winds It is defined as winds that move from west to east in the upper parts of the atmosphere and while doing this, exhibit an undulating flow between north-south directions. These winds move by following the boundaries between hot and cold air.

Combined with the temperature changes and warming in the oceans and the changes in the strength and direction of the jet winds, heatwave is trapped in a high pressure zone and the above-mentioned heat dome is formed.

Scientists believe that high air temperatures and the resulting temperature and pressure differences that jet winds change their movement it states. This causes the jet winds, which create low pressure areas in the region it passes through, to be unable to fulfill this task.

heat domes It can last for days or even weeks. As the time gets longer, the cycle can be repeated, increasing its effect. The heat dome effect is not a newly observed phenomenon. In fact, it is possible to say that the total number is tens of thousands when we look at the deaths experienced during the heat dome effect periods in the past years. But now it happens much more often and its effect is much stronger…

A vicious, repetitive cycle, each step connected to one another.

Unfortunately around the world temperature changes due to climate change As it continues to be experienced, the chain of natural events that feed each and every step of this kind will be seen more frequently.

The oceans are warming. The pressure and temperature changes that occur affect the direction and strength of the winds. The pressure balances protected by the winds are disturbed. This too it causes more warming and deaths…

The heat dome creates an oven effect due to the humid and stagnant air, causing an increase in temperature-related deaths.

When the weather is very hot, our body sweats to keep the temperature down. But in the air As the humidity increases, the body is prevented from dissipating heat with sweat. So our body cannot cool down. Due to this effect, the heat dome causes the body to not be able to cool down and causes various reactions in the body due to the heat.

Since high humidity also increases the felt temperature, in the heat dome regions where the air humidity is at the maximum level. it feels much warmer. When all these factors come together, ailments that result in death occur.

Forest fires, melting cables, roads spoiled by heat…

The heat dome has devastating effects on humans as well as the environment. The heat dome effect experienced in America, Canada and European countries doubled the number of forest fires.

The temperatures rose so high that cables, auto parts, traffic signs melted, and asphalt deteriorated. The chain of events that is the cause of all these effects is expected to occur more frequently in the coming years. In fact, scientists believe that extreme temperatures such as 50 degrees will be expected in the coming years. ‘cool’ might even be considered says…

Experts recommend regular water consumption, avoid being under the sun during extremely hot hours of the day, and avoid the heat. nausea, fatigue, dizzinessi draws attention to getting professional support in case of such symptoms.

Sources: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, British Royal Meteorological Society, Scientific American, BBC News