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Social media posts downplay the impact of the heat dome on climate change

“Unprecedented Heatwave Sweeps Northeastern US and Canada: Scientists Issue Dire Warning”

On June 21, 2024, a screenshot of a post on X captured the alarming trend of heat records being tied or broken in the northeastern United States and Canada’s Atlantic provinces and Ontario. The heatwave conditions were deemed dangerous and potentially lethal by scientists, who attributed the severity to climate change pushing up average temperatures. A panel of global scientists issued a warning in June 2024 about the increased likelihood of deadly heat events in the US, Mexico, and Central America.

The phenomenon of a “heat dome” was explained as warm air being trapped near the Earth’s surface by high-pressure systems, preventing cloud formation and precipitation. This heat dome effect was responsible for extreme temperatures in the Midwest and Southwest of the United States, setting new records and prompting warnings for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Experts like Michael Mann from the Penn Center for Science highlighted the deep layer of warm air associated with heat domes, leading to prolonged heatwaves and increased heat stress on those without adequate cooling systems. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned about the aggravation of heat stress due to the early arrival and persistence of the heat in the summer season.

Data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information revealed that the ten warmest years on record have all occurred in the last decade, indicating a clear trend of rising temperatures. The NOAA also estimated a high likelihood of 2024 being warmer than the previous year and ranking among the top five warmest years on record.

Research scientists like Piyush Jain from Natural Resources Canada emphasized the intensifying nature of heatwaves, attributing the increase in intensity and duration to global warming. Karen McKinnon from UCLA echoed this sentiment, highlighting the non-linear effect of rising temperatures on extreme weather events.

Keith Alverson, Secretary General at the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences, stressed the certainty of an increase in hot extremes due to global warming, as confirmed by a panel of independent scientists working on climate change reports for the United Nations.

Experts like Kent Moore from the University of Toronto emphasized the importance of heat warnings in protecting public health and providing ways for people to mitigate the effects of extreme heat events. The article also debunked false and misleading claims related to extreme heat events, underlining the importance of accurate information dissemination during such critical times.

Overall, the post on X captured the urgency and severity of the heatwave conditions in various parts of North America, shedding light on the role of climate change in exacerbating extreme weather events and the need for proactive measures to address the escalating risks associated with rising temperatures.

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