Heat dome

Heat domes are typically associated with minimal cloud cover and clear skies, which allow the unhindered penetration of solar radiation to the Earth's surface, intensifying the overall temperature.{{Cite journal |last1=Fan |first1=Yifan |last2=Li |first2=Yuguo |last3=Bejan |first3=Adrian |last4=Wang |first4=Yi |last5=Yang |first5=Xinyan |date=2017-09-15 |title=Horizontal extent of the urban heat dome flow |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=11681 |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-09917-4 |pmid=28916810 |pmc=5601473 |bibcode=2017NatSR...711681F |issn=2045-2322}}

They also cover a large geographical area that has a greater atmospheric pressure than the surrounding regions. The high atmospheric pressure area acts like a lid on the atmosphere and causes warm air to be pushed to the surface and holding it there over extended durations.

Heat domes allow maximum heating of the Earth as they allow penetration of sunshine to the surface of the Earth.{{Cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Yan |last2=Wang |first2=Xiaoxue |last3=Fan |first3=Yifan |last4=Zhao |first4=Yongling |last5=Carmeliet |first5=Jan |last6=Ge |first6=Jian |date=2023-05-01 |title=Urban heat dome flow deflected by the Coriolis force |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212095523000433 |journal=Urban Climate |volume=49 |article-number=101449 |doi=10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101449 |bibcode=2023UrbCl..4901449Z |issn=2212-0955|url-access=subscription }}

File:heatdome.svg

Heat domes can arise in still and dry summer conditions, when a mass of warm air builds up, and the high pressure from the Earth's atmosphere pushes the warm air down. The air is then compressed, and as its net heat is now in a smaller volume, it increases in temperature. As the warm air attempts to rise, the high pressure above it acts as a dome, forcing the air down and causing it to get hotter and hotter, resulting in increased pressure below the dome.{{Cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Zachary |date=26 July 2018 |title=What is a heat dome? |url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-is-a-heat-dome/971124}}{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Sean |date=29 June 2021 |title=What is the North American heat dome and how dangerous is it? |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/north-american-heat-dome-dangerous/}}

The 2021 Northwest heat dome was formed in this way, as a stagnant high-pressure system intensified local temperatures, blocked cooling maritime breezes, and hindered cloud formation. This allowed uninterrupted solar radiation to further warm the air and the rising warm air was pushed back down by the high-pressure system, creating a self-sustaining cycle of heating.{{Cite web |title=2021 Northwest Heat Dome: Causes, Impacts and Future Outlook {{!}} USDA Climate Hubs |url=https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/2021-northwest-heat-dome-causes-impacts-and-future-outlook |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=www.climatehubs.usda.gov |language=en}}

Increases in sea surface temperatures across the Northern Pacific, particularly off the coast of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia, create favorable conditions for the formation of high atmospheric pressure domes, which can lead to the development of heat domes.{{Cite magazine |date=2023-07-27 |title=What to Know About Heat Domes—And How Long They Last |url=https://time.com/6299072/what-to-know-about-heat-domes-and-how-long-they-last/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}

Studies indicate that human-induced climate change{{Cite web |title=2021 Northwest Heat Dome: Causes, Impacts and Future Outlook {{!}} USDA Climate Hubs |url=https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/2021-northwest-heat-dome-causes-impacts-and-future-outlook |access-date=2024-03-28 |website=www.climatehubs.usda.gov |language=en}} plays a significant role in the formation of heat domes, as heat domes are more likely to occur in higher atmospheric temperatures. The occurrence of heat domes contributes to the positive feedback loop of increased climate change by resulting in overall higher atmospheric temperatures.{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Ziming |last2=Lu |first2=Jian |last3=Chang |first3=Chuan-Chieh |last4=Lubis |first4=Sandro W. |last5=Leung |first5=L. Ruby |date=2023-11-21 |title=Projected increase in summer heat-dome-like stationary waves over Northwestern North America |journal=npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=194 |doi=10.1038/s41612-023-00511-2 |bibcode=2023npCAS...6..194C |issn=2397-3722|doi-access=free }}

Heat domes coincide with stagnant atmospheric conditions, exacerbating air quality issues.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2024 |title=How Weather Affects Air Quality |url=https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/air-quality/how-weather-affects-air-quality#:~:text=Heat%20waves%20often%20lead%20to,forest%20fires%20are%20more%20common.}} Common byproducts include increased smog and pollution levels.{{Cite journal |last=Mickley |first=Loretta J. |date=July 2007 |title=A Future Short of Breath? Possible Effects of Climate Change on Smog |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/ENVT.49.6.34-43 |journal=Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development |language=en |volume=49 |issue=6 |pages=32–43 |doi=10.3200/ENVT.49.6.34-43 |bibcode=2007ESPSD..49f..32M |issn=0013-9157|url-access=subscription }} Heat domes can intensify heat waves by interacting with other weather systems, such as frontal boundaries.{{Cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Yuanjie |last2=Wang |first2=Liang |last3=Santanello |first3=Joseph A. |last4=Pan |first4=Zaitao |last5=Gao |first5=Zhiqiu |last6=Li |first6=Dan |date=2020-05-01 |title=Aircraft observed diurnal variations of the planetary boundary layer under heat waves |journal=Atmospheric Research |volume=235 |article-number=104801 |doi=10.1016/j.atmosres.2019.104801 |bibcode=2020AtmRe.23504801Z |issn=0169-8095|doi-access=free }} They can also contribute to drought by increasing the rate of evaporation and reducing soil moisture.{{Cite journal |last1=Lamaoui |first1=Mouna |last2=Jemo |first2=Martin |last3=Datla |first3=Raju |last4=Bekkaoui |first4=Faouzi |date=2018 |title=Heat and Drought Stresses in Crops and Approaches for Their Mitigation |journal=Frontiers in Chemistry |volume=6 |page=26 |doi=10.3389/fchem.2018.00026 |doi-access=free |pmid=29520357 |pmc=5827537 |bibcode=2018FrCh....6...26L |issn=2296-2646}} In areas such as California's Central Valley, heat domes exacerbate drought conditions by increasing the rate of evaporation amongst crops and native vegetation.{{Cite journal |last1=Mera |first1=Roberto |last2=Massey |first2=Neil |last3=Rupp |first3=David E. |last4=Mote |first4=Philip |last5=Allen |first5=Myles |last6=Frumhoff |first6=Peter C. |date=2015-12-01 |title=Climate change, climate justice and the application of probabilistic event attribution to summer heat extremes in the California Central Valley |journal=Climatic Change |language=en |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=427–438 |doi=10.1007/s10584-015-1474-3 |bibcode=2015ClCh..133..427M |issn=1573-1480|doi-access=free }}

Previous heat domes have been linked to the widespread damage of trees, primarily through high solar irradiation.{{Cite journal |date=5 January 2023 |title=Causes of widespread foliar damage from the June 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome: more heat than drought |url=https://academic.oup.com/treephys/article/43/2/203/6972261 |access-date=2024-03-28 |journal=Tree Physiology|doi=10.1093/treephys/tpac143 |last1=Still |first1=C. J. |last2=Sibley |first2=A. |last3=Depinte |first3=D. |last4=Busby |first4=P. E. |last5=Harrington |first5=C. A. |last6=Schulze |first6=M. |last7=Shaw |first7=D. R. |last8=Woodruff |first8=D. |last9=Rupp |first9=D. E. |last10=Daly |first10=C. |last11=Hammond |first11=W. M. |last12=Page |first12=G F M. |volume=43 |issue=2 |pages=203–209 |pmid=36611006 }} Alongside foliar scorching as a result of heat stress, the evolutionary creation and success of heat-resilient foliar species were byproducts of heat domes.

Heat domes increase the thermal stress{{Cite journal |last1=Raymond |first1=Wendel W. |last2=Barber |first2=Julie S. |last3=Dethier |first3=Megan N. |last4=Hayford |first4=Hilary A. |last5=Harley |first5=Christopher D. G. |last6=King |first6=Teri L. |last7=Paul |first7=Blair |last8=Speck |first8=Camille A. |last9=Tobin |first9=Elizabeth D. |last10=Raymond |first10=Ann E. T. |last11=McDonald |first11=P. Sean |date=20 June 2022 |title=Assessment of the impacts of an unprecedented heatwave on intertidal shellfish of the Salish Sea |journal=Ecology |language=en |volume=103 |issue=10 |pages=e3798 |doi=10.1002/ecy.3798 |issn=0012-9658 |pmc=9786359 |pmid=35726191|bibcode=2022Ecol..103E3798R }} of organisms living in intertidal ecosystems, a factor that has previously led to the deaths of marine species during the 2021 North American Heat Dome.

The occurrence of heat domes has contributed to increasing climate change concerns. This was particularly demonstrated among British Columbians, who in previous studies displayed higher levels of climate change anxiety{{Cite journal |last1=Bratu |first1=Andreea |last2=Card |first2=Kiffer G. |last3=Closson |first3=Kalysha |last4=Aran |first4=Niloufar |last5=Marshall |first5=Carly |last6=Clayton |first6=Susan |last7=Gislason |first7=Maya K. |last8=Samji |first8=Hasina |last9=Martin |first9=Gina |last10=Lem |first10=Melissa |last11=Logie |first11=Carmen H. |last12=Takaro |first12=Tim K. |last13=Hogg |first13=Robert S. |date=2022-05-01 |title=The 2021 Western North American heat dome increased climate change anxiety among British Columbians: Results from a natural experiment |journal=The Journal of Climate Change and Health |volume=6 |article-number=100116 |doi=10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100116 |issn=2667-2782|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022JCCH....600116B }} following the 2021 North American Heat Dome.

Heat domes put communities at risk of increased mortality rates. Deaths resulting from heat domes are more likely to impact susceptible and marginalized populations, who are less likely to have access to air-conditioned living spaces.{{Cite journal |last1=Henderson |first1=Sarah B. |last2=McLean |first2=Kathleen E. |last3=Lee |first3=Michael J. |last4=Kosatsky |first4=Tom |date=February 2022 |title=Analysis of community deaths during the catastrophic 2021 heat dome: Early evidence to inform the public health response during subsequent events in greater Vancouver, Canada |journal=Environmental Epidemiology |language=en-US |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=e189 |doi=10.1097/EE9.0000000000000189|pmid=35169667 |pmc=8835552 }}

The 2025 European heatwave has been attributed to a heat dome, and human-caused climate change is likely.{{Cite web |title=Early-season heat wave in France intensified by climate change |url=https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-shift-index-alert/france-june-2025 |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=Climate Central |publication-date=June 12, 2025}}

The 2021 Western North America heat dome garnered its attention for its unprecedented intensity and duration in recent years which led to significant societal influences such as widespread power outages and increased wildfire activities. This further emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change in order to reduce the occurrence and severity of such events.{{Cite journal |last1=Henderson |first1=Sarah B. |last2=McLean |first2=Kathleen E. |last3=Lee |first3=Michael J. |last4=Kosatsky |first4=Tom |date=February 2022 |title=Analysis of community deaths during the catastrophic 2021 heat dome: Early evidence to inform the public health response during subsequent events in greater Vancouver, Canada |journal=Environmental Epidemiology |language=en-US |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=e189 |doi=10.1097/EE9.0000000000000189|pmid=35169667 |pmc=8835552 }}{{Cite web |title=2021 Northwest Heat Dome: Causes, Impacts and Future Outlook {{!}} USDA Climate Hubs |url=https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/2021-northwest-heat-dome-causes-impacts-and-future-outlook |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=www.climatehubs.usda.gov |language=en}} Addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting strategies are significant steps in lessening the frequency of extreme heat events in 2021.

In 2021, a record-breaking heat dome based in British Columbia caused 595 community deaths, a record for similar atmospheric events.https://bc.ctvnews.ca/595-people-died-due-to-b-c-s-extreme-summer-heat-latest-coroner-data-reveals-1.5646936#:~:text=The%20BC%20Coroners%20Service%20updated%20its%20data%20on,died%20from%20the%20heat%20than%20preliminary%20findings%20showed. Most households in the broader Vancouver lack air conditioning, resulting in individuals being highly susceptible to deaths caused by heat such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The study on this event emphasizes the importance of public health and providing more air conditioning and urban green spaces.

Persistent heat dome led to extensive wildfires, crop failures, and a surge in mortality rates during the Russian heatwave in 2010. The far-reaching consequences affected by economic and social factors of this event reverberated globally, impacting the interconnectedness of regional weather phenomena and agricultural markets.

File:500-mb_pressure_chart_2021-06-28_700EST_Heat_dome_Pacific_NW.png, over west Canada and the Northwest United States. The "high" pressure at left is the heat dome]]

• 1936 North American heat wave
• 2012 North American heat wave
• 2018 North American heat wave
• 2021 Russia heatwave
• 2021 British Columbia wildfires
• 2021 Western North America heat wave
• 2023 Western North America heat wave
• 2023 South America heat wave

Research points to a projected increase in stationary waves circulating around North America following the occurrence of heat domes.{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Ziming |date=21 November 2023 |title=Projected increase in summer heat-dome-like stationary waves over Northwestern North America |journal=npj Climate and Atmospheric Science |volume=6 |issue=1 |article-number=194 |doi=10.1038/s41612-023-00511-2 |bibcode=2023npCAS...6..194C |doi-access=free }} These are the same waves that lead to extreme heat events, indicating a higher likelihood of similar events taking place in the future. Research studies have shown that the development of heat domes is generally improbable,{{Cite web |last=Mulkern |first=Anne |date=3 October 2023 |title=Deadly Heat Dome Was a 1-in-10,000-Year Event |url=https://enable-sentry.beta.node.sciam.com/article/deadly-heat-dome-was-a-1-in-10-000-year-event/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326031038/https://enable-sentry.beta.node.sciam.com/article/deadly-heat-dome-was-a-1-in-10-000-year-event/ |archive-date=2024-03-26}} however the increasing level of concern surrounding the impact of climate change highlights that heat domes may no longer become a rare occurrence.

Techniques to mitigate the effects of heat domes often involve urban planning,{{Cite journal |last1=Gago |first1=E. J. |last2=Roldan |first2=J. |last3=Pacheco-Torres |first3=R. |last4=Ordóñez |first4=J. |date=2013-09-01 |title=The city and urban heat islands: A review of strategies to mitigate adverse effects |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032113003602 |journal=Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews |volume=25 |pages=749–758 |doi=10.1016/j.rser.2013.05.057 |bibcode=2013RSERv..25..749G |issn=1364-0321|url-access=subscription }} public health initiatives, and community interaction. Strategies include increasing green areas,{{Cite journal |last1=Wong |first1=Nyuk Hien |last2=Yu |first2=Chen |date=2005-09-01 |title=Study of green areas and urban heat island in a tropical city |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197397504000281 |journal=Habitat International |volume=29 |issue=3 |pages=547–558 |doi=10.1016/j.habitatint.2004.04.008 |issn=0197-3975|url-access=subscription }} using cool roofs{{Cite journal |last1=Pisello |first1=Anna Laura |last2=Santamouris |first2=Mattheos |last3=Cotana |first3=Franco |date=October 2013 |title=Active cool roof effect: impact of cool roofs on cooling system efficiency |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17512549.2013.865560 |journal=Advances in Building Energy Research |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=209–221 |doi=10.1080/17512549.2013.865560 |bibcode=2013AdBER...7..209P |issn=1751-2549|url-access=subscription }} and improving ventilation{{Cite journal |last1=Aynsley |first1=Richard |last2=Shiel |first2=John J. |date=2017-05-04 |title=Ventilation strategies for a warming world |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00038628.2017.1300764 |journal=Architectural Science Review |language=en |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=249–254 |doi=10.1080/00038628.2017.1300764 |issn=0003-8628|url-access=subscription }} in urban areas. Public agencies provide support to vulnerable populations, reducing adverse heat-related impacts through the following methods: heat health warning systems,{{Cite journal |last1=Kovats |first1=R. Sari |last2=Hajat |first2=Shakoor |date=2008-04-01 |title=Heat Stress and Public Health: A Critical Review |url=https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090843 |journal=Annual Review of Public Health |language=en |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=41–55 |doi=10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.020907.090843 |pmid=18031221 |issn=0163-7525|url-access=subscription }} data monitoring, cooling centers,{{Cite journal |last1=Bedi |first1=Neil Singh |last2=Adams |first2=Quinn H. |last3=Hess |first3=Jeremy J. |last4=Wellenius |first4=Gregory A. |date=September 2022 |title=The Role of Cooling Centers in Protecting Vulnerable Individuals from Extreme Heat |journal=Epidemiology |language=en-US |volume=33 |issue=5 |pages=611–615 |doi=10.1097/EDE.0000000000001503 |pmid=35706096 |pmc=9378433 |issn=1044-3983}} water management,{{Cite journal |last1=Richards |first1=Daniel R. |last2=Edwards |first2=Peter J. |date=2018-07-04 |title=Using water management infrastructure to address both flood risk and the urban heat island |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07900627.2017.1357538 |journal=International Journal of Water Resources Development |language=en |volume=34 |issue=4 |pages=490–498 |doi=10.1080/07900627.2017.1357538 |bibcode=2018IJWRD..34..490R |issn=0790-0627|url-access=subscription }} and climate change suppression,{{Cite journal |last1=Peng |first1=Roger D. |last2=Bobb |first2=Jennifer F. |last3=Tebaldi |first3=Claudia |author-link3=Claudia Tebaldi |last4=McDaniel |first4=Larry |last5=Bell |first5=Michelle L. |last6=Dominici |first6=Francesca |date=May 2011 |title=Toward a Quantitative Estimate of Future Heat Wave Mortality under Global Climate Change |journal=Environmental Health Perspectives |language=en |volume=119 |issue=5 |pages=701–706 |doi=10.1289/ehp.1002430 |issn=0091-6765 |pmc=3094424 |pmid=21193384|bibcode=2011EnvHP.119..701P }} among other efforts. Educational campaigns increase awareness of heat safety, increasing the effectiveness of other mitigation methods.{{Cite journal |last1=Hasan |first1=Fariha |last2=Marsia |first2=Shayan |last3=Patel |first3=Kajal |last4=Agrawal |first4=Priyanka |last5=Razzak |first5=Junaid Abdul |date=January 2021 |title=Effective Community-Based Interventions for the Prevention and Management of Heat-Related Illnesses: A Scoping Review |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |language=en |volume=18 |issue=16 |pages=8362 |doi=10.3390/ijerph18168362 |doi-access=free |pmid=34444112 |pmc=8394078 |issn=1660-4601}}

• Heat wave
• Extreme weather

• [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-a-heat-dome/ What is a Heat Dome?—Scientific American]
• [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57665715 BBC reference]
• [https://news.sky.com/story/what-is-a-heat-dome-record-breaking-weather-system-hits-us-and-canada-12345417 sky.com reference]
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/heat-domes-explained-pacific-northwest-experiencing-record-breaking/ telegraph.co.uk reference]
• [https://www.severe-weather.eu/global-weather/heat-dome-record-breaking-heatwave-pacific-northwest-canada-united-states-mk/ severe-weather.eu/ on heat domes]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-NG9vc8uAQ YouTube reference]

Category:Atmospheric dynamics

Category:Meteorological phenomena