Science Source
California Heat Waves – A New Type of Heat Wave
- Reviews existing literature on heat trends in California
- Finds the traditional type of heat wave, natural for California's semi-arid Mediterranean climate, has increasingly tended to be more humid and more often accentuated at night since the 1980s
- States humidity leads to higher night time temperatures and also makes extreme heat much more difficult for humans as it reduces our bodies’ ability to cool off by evaporating water – sweating
- States the observed trend towards more humid, more intense and longer-lasting heat waves in California has so far culminated in the July 2006 heat wave, an event of unprecedented impact on human health in the state
- States that heat waves impacting California are caused by a specific weather pattern characterized by high atmospheric pressure in the Great Plains and low pressure off California’s coast which together draw warm moist air from the south
- States that coastal waters west of Baja California are an important source for this humid air; these waters have become unusually warm in recent decades as part of a global warming pattern and have been partially responsible for the fact that the rare weather patterns associated with great California heat waves have tended to bring warmer, more humid air
Related Content
Headline
Jul 5, 2016 | Forbes
What Is The Hottest Place On Earth And Did It Just Break A Record?
Headline
Jul 5, 2016 | Fresno Bee
June was a scorcher: Fresno heat wave broke summer records early
Headline
Jul 5, 2016 | KTAR
Phoenix ties all-time record for June average temperature
Headline
Jul 5, 2016 | KTNV
Record-breaking heat in Death Valley this June
