How does a heat dome cause temperatures to rise to record levels?

Arab Weather - The Kingdom and the region are currently experiencing the direct impact of what is known as a heat dome, a weather phenomenon that occurs when a strong, stable high-pressure system forms over a specific area, acting as a "cap" that prevents hot air from moving or dissipating.

This phenomenon leads to:

Compression of air under the dome raises its temperature.

Hot air is attracted to remain trapped beneath a high pressure system.

Heating of the Earth's surface by direct solar radiation.

The heat wave is prolonged and its heat intensity is accumulating.

According to experts at the Arab Weather Center, these factors combined explain the unprecedented rise in temperatures, which may reach record levels in some areas, increasing health and environmental risks during heat waves.

Scientifically: What is the heat dome phenomenon?

A heat dome is a climatic phenomenon that results from a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere, which heats the air in the lower atmosphere due to a dynamic process called "heating under pressure." When the air is compressed in a specific area under the influence of a high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere, a hot surface air mass is created, the intensity of which varies depending on the area, the intensity of the high-pressure area, and also depending on the period of its formation during the year.

The high pressure traps the hot air like a lid on a boiling pot. As the hot air expands vertically in the atmosphere, the high pressure pushes it back toward the ground. The air is compressed again under the high pressure area, causing it to gain more heat. This is known scientifically as sub-pressure heating.

Will the Gaza Strip be affected by the heat wave expected at the end of the week?

A heat dome can cause temperatures to rise much higher than normal. Furthermore, the ground begins to warm, lose moisture, and the risk of forest fires increases. The heat dome's impact is further exacerbated by urban areas and urban sprawl at the expense of agricultural areas, as cities absorb and store heat, unlike urban and rural areas.

And God knows best.