What is the scientific definition of a heat wave?

Arab Weather - Heat waves are considered to be harmful weather phenomena that cause losses in both the agricultural and economic sectors, in addition to their effect on the health aspect and daily activities of living organisms.

Heatwave according to meteorological organization

The World Meteorological Organization has recommended the release of a heat wave on the weather when the maximum temperatures exceed 5 ° C over the average maximum temperature for more than five consecutive days, but this definition differs from one country to another.

For example, the heat wave is defined in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg as the period in which the maximum temperature exceeds 25 ° for five consecutive days, or when the maximum temperature exceeds 30 ° C for three consecutive days. In Denmark, the heat wave occurs when the maximum temperature exceeds 28 ° C for three consecutive days and includes 50% of the country’s parts.

Waves are one of the most atmospheric phenomena affecting people in many ways, and they are dangerous because they may cause the death of humans and animals and sometimes plants, where the heat wave that affected Chicago in 1995 is considered one of the worst heat waves in the history of the United States of America, which led to the death of nearly 600 A person in five days.

What is the secret of the high number of heat wave victims in Europe compared to the rest of the continents?

Hot waves and the Arab region

The Arab regions, especially the Arabian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Sahara regions, are considered to be one of the hottest regions of the world throughout the year, where during the summer the heat reaches approximately 50 degrees Celsius, especially in Iraq, Kuwait, and northeastern Saudi Arabia and the desert parts of the Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman. Hot in these areas is normal, and a hot wave is not called unless the temperature approaches fifty degrees Celsius or more, exceeding rates between 3-5 degrees Celsius.

In the Levant , the weather is called a "heat wave" if it exceeds 4-6 degrees above the normal rates for a certain period of time and continues for 3 consecutive days and more.