Heat Wave in Western Europe

Subject: Geography

Heat Wave in Western Europe

An intense and unprecedented early heatwave is baking western Europe, with temperatures in many places topping 40 degrees Celsius (°C).
The UK, Portugal, Spain, Italy and France have been affected, with little relief in sight.
Some of the worst conditions are further south, on the Iberian Peninsula.
At least 14 states across Spain and Portugal have been issued with ‘extreme’ heat alerts, which is the highest level in this regard.
The recent ice avalanches in the Italian Alps have claimed many lives.
Southwestern Europe recently experienced the fifth-hottest May on record.
Normally, heatwaves happen due to large-scale atmospheric circulation related to Rossby waves.
The heatwave could be due to the condition of Arctic sea ice.
If the sea ice is present, the vortex or wind circulation will be concentrated around the Arctic. If it is not there, the vortex will become wobbly and come down south to the mid latitudes.
This means there will be a cold wave in some areas and a heatwave in others.

Heat wave

A heat wave occurs when the daily maximum temperature of more than five consecutive days exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5 °C (9 °F), the normal period being 1961–1990.

Rossby Waves

These waves are associated with jet streams and the earth’s pressure systems.
Rossby waves are formed when air from the polar region makes its way towards the Equator while the air from the tropics makes its way towards the poles.
This is because of the differences in the solar radiation received, heat tends to move from high low to high latitudes.
The existence of the waves explains the functioning of low-pressure cells such as cyclones and high-pressure cells that are important in producing the weather of middle and higher latitudes.