What is causing the ‘dangerous’ heat in Canada? – Science

Western Canada and the United States are experiencing the worst heat wave on record. On Sunday, the 1937 Canadian temperature record was broken, when it turned 45 degrees. In Lytton, British Columbia, the warmest place in Canada, temperatures were 46.6 degrees, 47.9 degrees on Monday and 49.6 degrees on Tuesday.
…

Western Canada and the United States are experiencing the worst heat wave on record. On Sunday, the 1937 Canadian temperature record was broken, when it turned 45 degrees. In Leighton in British Columbia, the warmest place in Canada, the temperature was 46.6 degrees, 47.9 degrees on Monday and 49.6 degrees on Tuesday. More than 500 sudden deaths have died since Friday, 486 people died suddenly in British Columbia, according to a law. Doctor. The number is likely to continue to rise. It is already 195% above average. And in Multnomah County, the county in the US state of Oregon to which the capital, Portland, belongs, 45 people have died since Friday. This mainly concerns the elderly. They were found dead alone, without air conditioning or fan. In Portland, temperatures have soared to 47 degrees Celsius, and of particular concern is the region in which the temperatures occur. Rarely does an area close to the ocean experience a heat wave like this. Statistically, in such a region and in a natural climate, this happens once every 1000 years. However, our climate is no longer normal, so its frequency will increase. Also, the inhabitants of these areas are not yet accustomed to dealing with such heat as in other parts of the world. Air conditioning is not as common as it is in some other US states in the Southwest. Fortunately, thanks to the sea breeze coming from the Pacific Ocean, it will be much cooler in the coming days. Temperatures are expected to hover around 32 degrees for the rest of the week, staying warm year-round, but not too hot. It has been known for some time in the southwestern United States, but it is less well known with us. Thermal dome is exactly what the term says. The atmospheric high pressure system traps warm ocean air as if it were under a dome. Heat accumulates without the possibility of escaping through ascent. When the air descends again and is compressed by the weight of the atmosphere, the air becomes denser, drier, and warmer. This cycle cannot be broken, so the air continues to circulate up and down. It’s getting hotter and hotter. Compare it to a convection oven, where people are literally roasting. Heat reaches a high level in the atmosphere and also affects air pressure and wind patterns, blocking out the cool sea air. The clouds are pushed away and the sun is given more leeway to heat the surface. The fact that we currently have the longest days of the year means that the sun makes our hours longer as well. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the heat dome is caused by a difference in sea temperature in the Pacific Ocean between the eastern and western parts during the past winter. The fact is that the western Pacific is warming faster than the eastern part, which leads to pressure differences. Warm air moves to the east. The northern strait then captures tropical air and sends it ashore where it sinks, creating heat waves. Thermal dome usually lasts a week. Experts argue that heat waves are not directly attributable to climate change, but it is true that climate change is the driving force behind increasingly more extreme weather events. Because the atmosphere is warmer, heat waves are also hotter. Meanwhile, the air quality in cities has also become very unhealthy and the risk of wildfires in the region has increased. For example, nearly all 350 residents of Lytton and the surrounding area in British Columbia lost their homes when a rapidly progressing wildfire destroyed everything.