Heat Dome [UPSC Notes]

The US has faced extreme heat waves recently, caused by a weather phenomenon called ‘heat domes.’ In this context, it is important to understand what heat domes are, what causes a heat dome, how it affects the environment and what can be done to reduce the impact of heat domes. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam geography segment of GS paper I.

What is a Heat Dome?

• Heat domes are high-pressure systems that trap hot air, leading to hot and dry weather that can cause dangerous heat waves, droughts, and wildfires. 
• Climate change has contributed to the increased frequency and intensity of heat domes.
• Heat domes occur when a high-pressure system traps hot air, creating a dome of hot air that can last for extended periods. 
• These conditions can lead to heat waves, droughts, and wildfires that can be hazardous to people and the environment.

How is a Heat Dome Formed?

Image source: www.rmets.org

• Heat domes occur when a high-pressure system in the atmosphere traps hot air underneath it for a prolonged duration. 
• This can happen due to a combination of meteorological factors. 
• Heat domes are more likely to form in areas with dry and hot air and large land masses, like deserts or plains, where the heat can accumulate and be trapped by high-pressure systems in the atmosphere.
• Climate change is also contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of heat domes.

What are the effects of a heat dome on the world?

• It can be harmful to human health, especially for the elderly, children, and those with existing health problems. 
• It can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and organ damage, which can be fatal. 
• Extreme heat can cause difficulty in breathing and put a lot of pressure on the heart and lungs, especially for people with existing conditions like asthma or heart disease.
• Heat waves have also been associated with an increased chance of heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory diseases.
• Heat domes can also cause damage to infrastructure such as buildings and roads, especially if they were not built to withstand such extreme conditions.

What can be done to reduce the impacts of heat domes?

• It is impossible to completely prevent the formation of heat domes, but there are things we can do to lessen their effects and decrease how often they happen or how severe they are. 
• To achieve this, we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we emit, increase our reliance on renewable energy sources, and enhance the design and materials of infrastructure to cope with extreme heat.

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