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12th July 2024 (9 Topics)

Heat Dome

Context

In June 2024, the Northeastern United States experienced an unusually early and prolonged heat wave caused by a weather phenomenon known as a heat dome. This heat dome, linked to a stagnant high-pressure system in the atmosphere, trapped warm air beneath it, preventing weather systems from moving through and resulting in extreme heat conditions.

What is a Heat Dome?

  • A heat dome forms when warm air becomes trapped under a stationary high-pressure area in the atmosphere.
  • This phenomenon blocks the movement of weather patterns, allowing more sunlight to reach the Earth's surface.
  • Consequently, this intensifies warming and drying of the soil, reduces evaporation, and inhibits the formation of rain clouds.
  • The longer a heat dome persists in one location, the hotter conditions become each passing day.
  • Heat domes typically last from several days to a few weeks and are influenced by the behavior of the jet stream.

Fact Box: Jet Stream

  • A jet stream is a fast-moving, narrow air current flowing west to east around the globe in the upper atmosphere.
  • It follows a wave-like pattern that oscillates north and south. When these waves elongate and slow down, they can become stationary, causing high-pressure systems like heat domes to become stuck in place.
  • Jet streams typically travel at speeds ranging from 129 to over 443 kilometers per hour (80 to 275 miles per hour), with greater speeds during winter due to temperature differences between air currents.

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