Time to Curb Climate Change
Summer has long been a season for fun and relaxation, but the summer of 2023 is proving to be less about picnics and more about sweltering temperatures. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), most of the United States is currently swaddled in an embrace of above-average temperatures that shows no sign of loosening. Particularly affected are regions such as Texas, the Southwest, and the lower Mississippi River Valley, where the heat is not just searing but is also persisting for an unusually long period.
What causes such a heatwave? The answer lies in the dance of atmospheric pressure and warm air.
A heat dome is a weather phenomenon that occurs when a persistent high-pressure system traps hot air over a large area. This can cause temperatures to soar well above normal, creating dangerous and potentially deadly conditions.
High pressure pushes warm air towards the ground. This high-pressure system pushes other weather systems to change course and reduces wind and cloud cover. This makes the air feel even hotter and more stifling, giving the heatwave its sticking power.
If you’re picturing a pressure cooker, you’re not far off. And in drought-ridden regions, like much of the American West, the conditions are ripe for the high-pressure system to trap a lot of heat.
Why does this matter? Because heat domes can have devastating consequences. Cast your mind back to the summer of 2021, when triple-digit temperatures in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia caused hundreds of deaths. According to researchers, such a deadly weather event would have been almost impossible without the contributing factor of climate change.
Unfortunately, global temperatures are breaking records in a way that nobody wants. The third of July marked the hottest day our planet has experienced since 1979, with the global average temperature reaching 63 degrees Fahrenheit (around 17.2 degrees Celsius). This isn’t just a one-off; it’s part of a growing trend of dangerous heatwaves. And this new normal is far from benign. The heat doesn’t just make you sweat; it affects the human body in ways that can be harmful, causing heat stress and potentially leading to serious health issues.
Driving these increasingly intense heatwaves is a potent combination of natural climate phenomena and human activity. The natural climate pattern known as El Niño, coupled with the more sinister backdrop of global warming, is pushing temperatures to these extreme levels. Humans have been turning up the heat on our planet for decades now, primarily by burning fossil fuels. This has resulted in global warming of more than 1 degree Celsius since 1900. Today’s burning summers are the price we’re paying for our carbon-intensive past and present.
The sobering reality is that unless we curb our enormous global greenhouse gas emissions, dangerous heatwaves will continue to be an unwelcome summer guest. The return of El Niño later this year and in 2024 promises more episodes of searing heat. As we navigate this warming world, understanding the causes and consequences of these heatwaves is more critical than ever. The heat is on, in more ways than one.