The heat waves that the peninsula is experiencing are, in part, responsibility for what is known as a heat dome. This is a meteorological phenomenon in which a great High atmospheric pressure area catches hot air near the surfacepreventing its escape and causing intense and prolonged heat. The high pressure system acts as a lid and hot air trapped as steam. This trapped air heats even more due to compression and solar radiation, which causes a dangerous and persistent heat wave.
A recent study indicates that the recent heat wave was caused by an unusual and complex combination of weather factors. The main trigger was a persistent and extraordinarily strong high pressure ridge (the aforementioned dome) that caught hot air over the region. Other factors that contributed were high solar radiation, Low pressure on the high seas, the air that descends on the earth and unusually dry soils.
What the study does not confirm is whether heat domes similar to what this event caused They will become significantly more commonbut they will do the high temperatures that were experienced.
“In essence, a high pressure crest of that magnitude is not needed to create a heat wave like the experience -the study points out -as you enter a warmer climate, there could be a weaker characteristic in the atmosphere that causes the same temperaturessince the general climate in the background is becoming warmer. ”
For the authors, The probability of exceeding 45 degrees increases over time, but it cannot be predicted more than one or two weeks in advance If the region will experience another heat wave of equal magnitude this summer or next.
“The summers have increased considerably the temperature in the last 80 yearsbut every year the average is being overcome -confirms the study -. In context, we observe constant and gradual warming. We will continue to have more extreme summers: if it rains, it will rain more and if it is hot, this will be greater ”.
Scientists claim that there is still much to learn about atmospheric factors and long -term impacts of these extreme meteorological phenomena. Its impact will be seen not only on health (Heat waves are increasingly a cause of major death in the adult population: about half a million per year, According to WHO). To this we must add its weight in marine biology, agriculture, livestock, fires and water sources.
The cities are not prepared to deal with increasingly high temperatures And that will have an important impact on health, physical and mental, its inhabitants.
“This is an example of why we need to study these aspects to better understand them and better predict their probability in the future -concludes the study -. The results help us understand as basic aspects as atmospheric theory, including those that we still do not fully understand about the atmosphere, as its impact on ecosystems and people”