heat dome
An exceptionally warm air mass at middle latitudes during the warm season that that is associated with a synoptic-scale area of high pressure aloft. This area of high pressure aloft can have a doming effect on the warm air mass below by suppressing rising motion and the development of clouds and precipitation. In some cases, sinking air associated with the upper-level high pressure can produce further warming via compression. Warm surface air beneath a heat dome can persist for several days because the flow aloft is often calm and stagnant, especially when the upper-level high pressure can be characterized as a blocking high. The term “heat dome” has been popularized by the news media as a way to explain extreme heat and/or drought events across large regions.
Chen, Z., J. Lu, J., C.-C. Chang, S. W. Lubis, and L. R. Leung, 2023: Projected increase in summer heat-dome-like stationary waves over northwestern North America. npj Climate Atmos. Sci., 6, 194, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-023-00511-2.
Jain, P., A. R. Sharma, D. C. Acuna, J. T. Abatzoglou, and M. Flannigan, 2024: Record-breaking fire weather in North America in 2021 was initiated by the Pacific northwest heat dome. Commun. Earth Environ., 5, 202, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01346-2.
Term edited 7 October 2024.