Marine heatwaves
edit
Main article: Marine heatwave
Marine heatwaves have become a prominent subject of research in recent years, reflecting
the fact that since the turn of this century many ocean areas have experienced peaks of
temperatures, along with more frequent, more intense, and more prolonged warming events
than ever met on record.[25] The genesis of marine heatwaves is mainly driven by a
combination of oceanic and atmospheric factors, often triggered by high pressure systems
that will reduce cloud cover and increase solar absorption by the sea surface. Human-
induced climate change appears bound to play a growing role in the development of marine
heatwaves, with increasing impacts on marine ecosystems, such as mass mortality in
benthic communities, coral bleaching events, disruptions in fishery catches, and shifts in
species distributions.
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]
In the eastern regions of the United States a heat wave can occur when a high pressure
system originating in the Gulf of Mexico becomes stationary just off the Atlantic Seaboard.
Hot humid air masses form over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. At the same
time hot dry air masses form over the desert Southwest and northern Mexico. The
southwest winds on the back side of the high continue to pump hot, humid Gulf air
northeastwards. This results in a spell of hot and humid weather for much of the eastern
United States and into southeastern Canada.[35]
In the Western Cape Province of South Africa, a heat wave can occur when the low-
pressure area offshore and the high-pressure area inland combine to form a bergwind. The
air warms as it descends from the Karoo interior. The temperature will rise about 10 Celsius
from the interior to the coast. Humidity is usually very low. The temperature can be over 40
Celsius in summer. The highest temperature recorded in South Africa (51.5 Celsius)
occurred one summer during a berg wind along the Eastern Cape coastline.[36][37]
The level of soil moisture can intensify heat waves in Europe.[38][39] Low soil moisture leads to
a number of complex feedback mechanisms. These in turn can result in increased surface
temperatures. One of the main mechanisms is reduced evaporative cooling of the
atmosphere.[38] When water evaporates, it consumes energy and therefore lowers the
surrounding temperature. If the soil is very dry, then incoming radiation from the sun will
warm the air. But there will be little or no cooling effect from moisture evaporating from the
soil.
Marine heatwaves
edit
Main article: Marine heatwave
Marine heatwaves have become a prominent subject of research in recent years, reflecting
the fact that since the turn of this century many ocean areas have experienced peaks of
temperatures, along with more frequent, more intense, and more prolonged warming events
than ever met on record.[25] The genesis of marine heatwaves is mainly driven by a
combination of oceanic and atmospheric factors, often triggered by high pressure systems
that will reduce cloud cover and increase solar absorption by the sea surface. Human-
induced climate change appears bound to play a growing role in the development of marine
heatwaves, with increasing impacts on marine ecosystems, such as mass mortality in
benthic communities, coral bleaching events, disruptions in fishery catches, and shifts in
species distributions.
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]
In the eastern regions of the United States a heat wave can occur when a high pressure
system originating in the Gulf of Mexico becomes stationary just off the Atlantic Seaboard.
Hot humid air masses form over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. At the same
time hot dry air masses form over the desert Southwest and northern Mexico. The
southwest winds on the back side of the high continue to pump hot, humid Gulf air
northeastwards. This results in a spell of hot and humid weather for much of the eastern
United States and into southeastern Canada.[35]
In the Western Cape Province of South Africa, a heat wave can occur when the low-
pressure area offshore and the high-pressure area inland combine to form a bergwind. The
air warms as it descends from the Karoo interior. The temperature will rise about 10 Celsius
from the interior to the coast. Humidity is usually very low. The temperature can be over 40
Celsius in summer. The highest temperature recorded in South Africa (51.5 Celsius)
occurred one summer during a berg wind along the Eastern Cape coastline.[36][37]
The level of soil moisture can intensify heat waves in Europe.[38][39] Low soil moisture leads to
a number of complex feedback mechanisms. These in turn can result in increased surface
temperatures. One of the main mechanisms is reduced evaporative cooling of the
atmosphere.[38] When water evaporates, it consumes energy and therefore lowers the
surrounding temperature. If the soil is very dry, then incoming radiation from the sun will
warm the air. But there will be little or no cooling effect from moisture evaporating from the
soil.
Heat waves have become more frequent, and more intense over land, across almost every
area on Earth since the 1950s, the increase in frequency and duration being caused
by climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization, heat waves
continued to intensify in 2024, with record-breaking temperatures reported in Europe, North
America, and China. Many regions experienced consecutive days above 45°C, highlighting
the increasing frequency and severity of extreme heat events worldwide.[3]
Heat waves form when a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere strengthens and
remains over a region for several days up to several weeks.[4] This traps heat near the
earth's surface. It is usually possible to forecast heat waves, thus allowing the authorities to
issue a warning in advance.
Heat waves have an impact on the economy. They can reduce labour productivity, disrupt
agricultural and industrial processes and damage infrastructure.[5][6] Severe heat waves have
caused catastrophic crop failures and thousands of deaths from hyperthermia. They have
increased the risk of wildfires in areas with drought. They can put additional stress on
electrical grids, potentially causing power outages (blackouts or brownouts). A heat wave
counts as extreme weather. It poses a danger to human health, because heat and sunlight
overwhelm thermoregulation in humans.
Definitions
edit
Heat waves have become more frequent, and more intense over land, across almost every
area on Earth since the 1950s, the increase in frequency and duration being caused
by climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization, heat waves
continued to intensify in 2024, with record-breaking temperatures reported in Europe, North
America, and China. Many regions experienced consecutive days above 45°C, highlighting
the increasing frequency and severity of extreme heat events worldwide.[3]
Heat waves form when a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere strengthens and
remains over a region for several days up to several weeks.[4] This traps heat near the
earth's surface. It is usually possible to forecast heat waves, thus allowing the authorities to
issue a warning in advance.
Heat waves have an impact on the economy. They can reduce labour productivity, disrupt
agricultural and industrial processes and damage infrastructure.[5][6] Severe heat waves have
caused catastrophic crop failures and thousands of deaths from hyperthermia. They have
increased the risk of wildfires in areas with drought. They can put additional stress on
electrical grids, potentially causing power outages (blackouts or brownouts). A heat wave
counts as extreme weather. It poses a danger to human health, because heat and sunlight
overwhelm thermoregulation in humans.
Definitions
edit
Heat waves have become more frequent, and more intense over land, across almost every
area on Earth since the 1950s, the increase in frequency and duration being caused
by climate change. According to the World Meteorological Organization, heat waves
continued to intensify in 2024, with record-breaking temperatures reported in Europe, North
America, and China. Many regions experienced consecutive days above 45°C, highlighting
the increasing frequency and severity of extreme heat events worldwide.[3]
Heat waves form when a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere strengthens and
remains over a region for several days up to several weeks.[4] This traps heat near the
earth's surface. It is usually possible to forecast heat waves, thus allowing the authorities to
issue a warning in advance.
Heat waves have an impact on the economy. They can reduce labour productivity, disrupt
agricultural and industrial processes and damage infrastructure.[5][6] Severe heat waves have
caused catastrophic crop failures and thousands of deaths from hyperthermia. They have
increased the risk of wildfires in areas with drought. They can put additional stress on
electrical grids, potentially causing power outages (blackouts or brownouts). A heat wave
counts as extreme weather. It poses a danger to human health, because heat and sunlight
overwhelm thermoregulation in humans.
Definitions
edit