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Europe and the eastern half of the United States are currently experiencing an intense heatwave.
This heatwave is caused by a strong high-pressure weather pattern, or otherwise known as an anticyclone or a "heat dome”. This traps a large amount of hot air, which then sinks to the ground. It brings with it dry and sunny days.
The current anticyclone has been stuck in place for roughly two weeks. With the trapped air absorbing more heat on the daily.
Heatwaves are considered the most dangerous type of weather event, with an approximated TWENTY THOUSAND heat related deaths in Europe alone.
The eastern half of the United States has also seen some extreme consequences from the heat, with at least TWENTY FIVE deaths confirmed over this weekend. The extreme heat has also coincided with Independence Day celebrations, prompting warnings that such hot and dry conditions could increase the risk of wildfires in some places.
Heatwaves to this extent aren’t caused purely by weather but are driven by global warming and climate change.
To learn more about this heatwave, its causes and what we can do about it. Producer Jude spoke to distinguished scholar and scientist, Dr Kevin Trenberth.
