What’s Behind the Heat Wave Scorching Huge Parts of the World
A combination of El Niño, unusually hot ocean waters, and jet stream changes is sending temperatures soaring in the US, Europe, and Asia.
The heat wave currently gripping significant portions of the globe is a result of various factors, including unusually hot ocean waters, El Niño, changes to the jet stream, and man-made climate change. Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record and saw record-breaking wildfires in July, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to warn that the heat and wildfires constituted "the toughest situation since World War II."
Numerous heat records are being broken across Europe, from Spain to Germany. The western US, from California to the Rockies, is also bracing for high heat this weekend, with Phoenix expected to reach up to 115°F (46°C) and Salt Lake City potentially hitting a record high of 106°F (41°C). Montana faces an extreme heat watch, with temperatures potentially reaching 110°F (43°C).
Unusually high overnight temperatures are forecast in some areas, making conditions even more hazardous. Parts of Asia, such as South Korea and Japan, are also grappling with scorching temperatures. The heat is partially driven by heat domes, or high pressure systems that trap sunny skies and warmth, which are influenced by the jet stream's shape.
The jet stream, responsible for most of the weather we experience, becomes wavy and allows tropical air to push northward, locking in place over usually temperate regions. Warmer ocean waters around Europe, Japan, and China have contributed to the heat waves, as about 90% of trapped heat in the atmosphere goes into the oceans. A recent analysis revealed that the European heat wave in June that left over 1,000 people dead would not have been possible without the added heat from human-induced climate change.
The western US heat wave is also linked to the downwind effects of Hurricane Genevieve, which built up over warm ocean waters off Mexico and is now releasing heat and energy into the atmosphere. El Niño, a climate phenomenon characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures, is also playing a role, with this year's event forecast to be exceptionally strong and potentially unprecedented.
As the world has already warmed more than 1.5°C, the combination of El Niño and human-induced climate change could lead to even more intense heat waves in the future.
Written by urgent.news from Wired Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
