Observations
[edit]
Main article: List of heat waves
New high temperature records have outpaced new low temperature records on a growing
portion of Earth's surface.[26]
Large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (for increasing
degrees of global warming) are expected.[27]: 18
Map of increasing heat wave trends
(frequency and cumulative intensity) over the midlatitudes and Europe, July–August 1979–
2020[28]
It is possible to compare heat waves in different regions of the world with different
climates thanks to a general indicator that appeared in 2015.[29] With these indicators,
experts estimated heat waves at the global scale from 1901 to 2010. They found a
substantial and sharp increase in the number of affected areas in the last two
decades.[30]
One study in 2021 investigated 13,115 cities. It found that extreme heat exposure of
a wet bulb globe temperature above 30 Celsius tripled between 1983 and 2016, and
if the effect of population growth (increasing the urban heat island effect) during
those years is excluded, the exposure increased a further 50%. The researchers
compiled a comprehensive list of past urban extreme heat events.[31][32]
Causes
[edit]
Heat waves form when a high pressure area at an altitude of 3,000–7,600 metres
(9,800–24,900 feet) strengthens and remains over a region for several days and up
to several weeks.[4] This is common in summer in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. This is because the jet stream 'follows the sun'. The high pressure
area is on the equator side of the jet stream in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Weather patterns are generally slower to change in summer than in winter. So, this
upper level high pressure also moves slowly. Under high pressure, the air sinks
toward the surface. It warms and dries adiabatically. This inhibits convection and
prevents the formation of clouds. A reduction of clouds increases the shortwave
radiation reaching the surface. A low pressure area at the surface leads to surface
wind from lower latitudes that brings warm air, enhancing the warming. The surface
winds could also blow from the hot continental interior towards the coastal zone.
This would lead to heat waves on the coast. They could also blow from high towards
low elevations. This enhances the subsidence or sinking of the air and therefore the
adiabatic warming.[33][34]
Observations
[edit]
Main article: List of heat waves
New high temperature records have outpaced new low temperature records on a growing
portion of Earth's surface.[26]
Large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (for increasing
degrees of global warming) are expected.[27]: 18
Map of increasing heat wave trends
(frequency and cumulative intensity) over the midlatitudes and Europe, July–August 1979–
2020[28]
It is possible to compare heat waves in different regions of the world with different
climates thanks to a general indicator that appeared in 2015.[29] With these indicators,
experts estimated heat waves at the global scale from 1901 to 2010. They found a
substantial and sharp increase in the number of affected areas in the last two
decades.[30]
One study in 2021 investigated 13,115 cities. It found that extreme heat exposure of
a wet bulb globe temperature above 30 Celsius tripled between 1983 and 2016, and
if the effect of population growth (increasing the urban heat island effect) during
those years is excluded, the exposure increased a further 50%. The researchers
compiled a comprehensive list of past urban extreme heat events.[31][32]
Causes
[edit]
Heat waves form when a high pressure area at an altitude of 3,000–7,600 metres
(9,800–24,900 feet) strengthens and remains over a region for several days and up
to several weeks.[4] This is common in summer in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. This is because the jet stream 'follows the sun'. The high pressure
area is on the equator side of the jet stream in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Weather patterns are generally slower to change in summer than in winter. So, this
upper level high pressure also moves slowly. Under high pressure, the air sinks
toward the surface. It warms and dries adiabatically. This inhibits convection and
prevents the formation of clouds. A reduction of clouds increases the shortwave
radiation reaching the surface. A low pressure area at the surface leads to surface
wind from lower latitudes that brings warm air, enhancing the warming. The surface
winds could also blow from the hot continental interior towards the coastal zone.
This would lead to heat waves on the coast. They could also blow from high towards
low elevations. This enhances the subsidence or sinking of the air and therefore the
adiabatic warming.[33][34]
Observations
[edit]
Main article: List of heat waves
New high temperature records have outpaced new low temperature records on a growing
portion of Earth's surface.[26]
Large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (for increasing
degrees of global warming) are expected.[27]: 18
Map of increasing heat wave trends
(frequency and cumulative intensity) over the midlatitudes and Europe, July–August 1979–
2020[28]
It is possible to compare heat waves in different regions of the world with different
climates thanks to a general indicator that appeared in 2015.[29] With these indicators,
experts estimated heat waves at the global scale from 1901 to 2010. They found a
substantial and sharp increase in the number of affected areas in the last two
decades.[30]
One study in 2021 investigated 13,115 cities. It found that extreme heat exposure of
a wet bulb globe temperature above 30 Celsius tripled between 1983 and 2016, and
if the effect of population growth (increasing the urban heat island effect) during
those years is excluded, the exposure increased a further 50%. The researchers
compiled a comprehensive list of past urban extreme heat events.[31][32]
Causes
[edit]
Heat waves form when a high pressure area at an altitude of 3,000–7,600 metres
(9,800–24,900 feet) strengthens and remains over a region for several days and up
to several weeks.[4] This is common in summer in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. This is because the jet stream 'follows the sun'. The high pressure
area is on the equator side of the jet stream in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Weather patterns are generally slower to change in summer than in winter. So, this
upper level high pressure also moves slowly. Under high pressure, the air sinks
toward the surface. It warms and dries adiabatically. This inhibits convection and
prevents the formation of clouds. A reduction of clouds increases the shortwave
radiation reaching the surface. A low pressure area at the surface leads to surface
wind from lower latitudes that brings warm air, enhancing the warming. The surface
winds could also blow from the hot continental interior towards the coastal zone.
This would lead to heat waves on the coast. They could also blow from high towards
low elevations. This enhances the subsidence or sinking of the air and therefore the
adiabatic warming.[33][34]
Observations
[edit]
Main article: List of heat waves
New high temperature records have outpaced new low temperature records on a growing
portion of Earth's surface.[26]
Large increases in both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (for increasing
degrees of global warming) are expected.[27]: 18
Map of increasing heat wave trends
(frequency and cumulative intensity) over the midlatitudes and Europe, July–August 1979–
2020[28]
It is possible to compare heat waves in different regions of the world with different
climates thanks to a general indicator that appeared in 2015.[29] With these indicators,
experts estimated heat waves at the global scale from 1901 to 2010. They found a
substantial and sharp increase in the number of affected areas in the last two
decades.[30]
One study in 2021 investigated 13,115 cities. It found that extreme heat exposure of
a wet bulb globe temperature above 30 Celsius tripled between 1983 and 2016, and
if the effect of population growth (increasing the urban heat island effect) during
those years is excluded, the exposure increased a further 50%. The researchers
compiled a comprehensive list of past urban extreme heat events.[31][32]
Causes
[edit]
Heat waves form when a high pressure area at an altitude of 3,000–7,600 metres
(9,800–24,900 feet) strengthens and remains over a region for several days and up
to several weeks.[4] This is common in summer in both the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres. This is because the jet stream 'follows the sun'. The high pressure
area is on the equator side of the jet stream in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Weather patterns are generally slower to change in summer than in winter. So, this
upper level high pressure also moves slowly. Under high pressure, the air sinks
toward the surface. It warms and dries adiabatically. This inhibits convection and
prevents the formation of clouds. A reduction of clouds increases the shortwave
radiation reaching the surface. A low pressure area at the surface leads to surface
wind from lower latitudes that brings warm air, enhancing the warming. The surface
winds could also blow from the hot continental interior towards the coastal zone.
This would lead to heat waves on the coast. They could also blow from high towards
low elevations. This enhances the subsidence or sinking of the air and therefore the
adiabatic warming.[33][34]