Why was summer 2018 so hot??

TL;DR

Extreme heat waves in the northern hemisphere are linked to a warm Atlantic, weak jet stream, and global warming.

Transcript

this video is made possible by brilliant dog if you live in the northern hemisphere right now you might have noticed that it's really rather hot in the UK we're experiencing a weeks-long heatwave so severe that when it rained recently it was greeted with jubilation in England in Sweden a surge of wildfires has occurred including more than a dozen i... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥵 The warm Atlantic, weak jet stream, and global warming are the primary drivers of extreme heat waves in the northern hemisphere.
• 🤢 Changes in the Atlantic's temperature impact climate phenomena such as hurricane formation and Arctic sea ice cover.
• 🥵 Global warming intensifies local weather effects, leading to prolonged heat waves and extreme temperature fluctuations.
• 🥵 The weakened jet stream contributes to persistent high-pressure systems and prolonged heat waves in certain regions.
• 😣 Climate change amplifies the impact of natural weather systems, making extreme events more frequent and severe.
• 🥵 Long-range forecasts predict prolonged heat waves in the UK due to a stubborn high-pressure system.
• 🥵 Understanding the complex interactions between oceanic and atmospheric systems is crucial for predicting and mitigating the effects of extreme heat waves.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the three main factors contributing to the current extreme heat waves in the northern hemisphere?

The extreme heat waves are primarily caused by a warm Atlantic, a weak jet stream, and global warming, resulting in persistent high temperatures and dry conditions.

Q: How does the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) influence climate patterns in the northern hemisphere?

The AMO, driven by ocean circulation and cloud cover, affects temperature anomalies, impacting regions surrounding the Atlantic and leading to wetter conditions in Europe and North America.

Q: What role does the jet stream play in shaping the current weather patterns in the UK and Scandinavia?

The weakened jet stream has allowed high-pressure systems to linger over the UK and Scandinavia, preventing colder air and moisture from penetrating these regions and exacerbating the heat wave.

Q: How does global warming contribute to the intensity of extreme weather events like heat waves?

Global warming, accelerated by human activities, disrupts temperature gradients, weakening the jet stream and leading to more frequent and severe heat waves, as observed in the current climate trends.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The ongoing extreme heat waves in the northern hemisphere are due to a warm Atlantic, weak jet stream, and global warming.

• Changes in the Atlantic's surface temperature impact climate phenomena worldwide, affecting hurricane formation and Arctic sea ice cover.

• Global warming has intensified the effects of local weather systems, leading to prolonged heat waves and extreme temperature fluctuations.