Kiran Anup Budhrani, Chandigarh University
What is El Nino and La Nina?
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a weather phenomenon generated due to the irregular variations in winds and surface temperature of the eastern pacific. Due to weak trade winds, the warm water gets accumulated on the Peruvian shore with warm water from Australia to the Peruvian. Thus, the generation of clouds near the Peruvian side leads to high rainfall, floods, and uncertainty in fishing industries while there are drought conditions in
Australia. In the case of La Nina, the heat waves that travel are more than usual that leads to colder conditions on the Peruvian and very high rainfall on the Australian shore. These two phenomena cause the oscillation of ocean water.
What is a Heat Dome?
When the temperature rises, the heat waves try to move above an action to cool down, this action is interrupted by trade winds or jet streams. The interruption in cloud formation is due to the speed of the jet stream. A heat dome involves atmospheric conditions with high pressure combined with weather patterns, the ideal conditions in which the trade winds or jet stream travels. When there is an abnormal rise in temperature for more After two days the heatwave is generated. Due to the situation of La Nina heatwaves were passed onto the temperature gradient between the western and Easter pacific reaching Canada and the US and got trapped due to continuous the flow of Jet stream which has high pressure.
Ideal conditions around the Pacific Ocean:
The Northern Pacific Ocean has the Peruvian coast on its east and the Australian on its west side being on the equator with exposure to direct sunlight, the northern Pacific Ocean is heated. Under the influence of Trade winds, the warm water travels from the Peruvian coast to the Australian coast by depleting warm water on the Peruvian coast by replacing the cold water from the bottom of the ocean carrying nutrients and minerals essential for attracting fish.
The heat waves get accumulated near the eastern Australian coast and lead to the vanishing of water and high rainfall on the Australian coast. The trade wave’s further travel cooling the heat waves reaching the troposphere with almost no moisture left. There are two forces of influence: Trade winds and Jet streams with the same function together creating a cell called a Walkers Cell. The same heatwave now cooled travels back to the Peruvian coast via Canada and the US.
Effects of Heat Dome:
Portland city in the US has seen the highest temperature of all times that is 46.7oC, west of Canada with 46oC thus sudden temperature rise has leading to 486 deaths and counting in the past five days. Trapping of heat damages the crop increases the energy demand, the wet-bulb temperature: Heat and Humidity after a rise are intolerant by humans. There are Annual Forest wildfires in the US increased due to Heat dome formation.
Verdict of Scientist, US President on Heat dome:
Michael E Mann, the Director of Earth Science System Center said that the occurrence of heatwaves increased three times more than usual. Global warming has increased the intensity and frequency of heatwaves. US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)suggests that the temperature of the western pacific has increased influencing the winds that drive across the entire ocean. US President Joe Biden said that the changing climate drives the extreme heat that can cause a high number of forest fires crossing the previous records.
Also read: Egg-based influenza virus vaccines – Are they effective?
References:
- Newsletter of India Today on Heat Dome https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/what-is-heat-dome-heatwave-us-canada-pakistan-pacific-ocean-1823038-2021-07-02
- About Heat Dome from NOAA’s National Ocean Service https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/heat-dome.html
About author:
Kiran Anup Budhrani has recently completed her Masters in Biotechnology, developing a keen interest in connecting various subjects, exploring different domains, developing as a budding biotechnologist to cause a change.
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