Record high temperatures in Britain, Ireland, and France were followed by expectations of even more severe heat. A heat dome of warm air from northern Africa is trapped beneath a high-pressure system over western Europe. The planet is about 1.4°C warmer than preindustrial times, while Europe is about 2.4°C warmer, with most of the excess heat driven by human greenhouse gas emissions. Shifts in atmospheric circulation have increased the frequency and intensity of European summer heatwaves. High-pressure systems that bring settled, hot conditions have become more common, and anticyclonic “blocking highs” can remain stationary and prevent other weather systems from entering the region.
"A so-called “heat dome” of warm air from northern Africa trapped under a high-pressure system over western Europe is behind the sort of heat not usually seen until high summer."
"Almost all of this heat is driven by the human-induced greenhouse effect from fossil fuel emissions, with the actual distribution of this excess heat determined by (several) factors."
"If you look over the last 20, 30 years, there has been a prevalence, especially in summer, of those sort of anticyclonic conditions that are making heatwaves more likely."
"Such high-pressure systems are also known as “blocking highs” as they can remain stationary and stop other weather systems from moving into a region."
#heatwaves #climate-change #atmospheric-circulation #high-pressure-systems #european-weather-extremes
Read at The Local Germany
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