3 days ago
What does a 'heat dome' have to do with dogs wearing crocs?
Both the US and Europe have been hit by a naturally occurring weather phenomenon known as a heat dome, bringing record breaking temperatures as a result.
A heat dome occurs when an area of high pressure forms over a large region. This can then act like a lid, preventing hot air from rising and gradually heating up the ground below it.
The trapped hot air can also stop cloud formation, preventing rain and creating a drier environment than usual that exponentially increases the heat radiating from the ground.
These occurrences can sometimes last for weeks with meteorologists describing the hot air as "self-perpetuating."
Across Europe this has led to sweltering temperatures, with the UK experiencing its second official heatwave of the month. As temperatures climb past 30C this weekend, they're set to peak at 33C this coming Monday just as the Wimbledon tennis championship gets going.
Throughout this heatwave the UK Health Security Agency has amber health alerts in place for much of the south and parts of the east.
In mainland Europe health alerts are also in place as the effects of the European heat dome create potentially deadly consequences.
In Greece a large wildfire broke out south of Athens on Thursday, triggering authorities to issue evacuation orders and shut down parts of the coastal road linking the Greek capital to Sounion, the location of the ancient Temple of Poseidon - a major tourist attraction.
The fire came as temperatures approached 40C in Greece's first heatwave of the summer.
On Friday, 12 water-dropping planes and 12 helicopters were providing air support to 130 firefighters, backed up by volunteer firefighters in the Palaia Fokaia seaside area south of Athens, according to fire department official Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
An orange warning level has been activated in Cordoba, Seville and Jaen, with temperatures in southern Spain expected to reach up to 43C in the following days.
Authorities are calling for precautions such as hydration, avoiding exposure to the sun and not exercising during the hottest hours of the day.
Parts of France have also been forecast to experience temperatures of 40C and over as the French meteorological organisation, météo France, extends the orange warning level for large parts of the country.
Croatia also saw peak temperatures of 44C, with a red weather alert in place for parts of the country and popular destinations largely deserted as people shelter inside.
In America dozens of people have been hospitalised after the East Coast was hit by its first heatwave of the Summer - caused by its own separate heat dome phenomenon.
Temperatures reached close to 39C in Philadelphia and 37C in New York.
In Washington DC a K-Pop concert ended early due to a range of heat-related incidents. In New York and Chicago several hospitals reported difficulty in maintaining power and air conditioning systems, with one utility company urging customers to conserve power to help prevent further outages.
In Charlotte, North Carolina, temperatures were so hot during the FIFA Club World Cup, athletes had to watch their teams play from the locker room while on the substitute bench according to Bayern Munich who posted the update on X.
Humans weren't the only ones coping with the extreme heat however. At the same Club World Cup, but this time in Philadelphia, drastic measures had to be taken to protect the feet of the four legged staff patrolling the stadium.
The sniffer dogs at Lincoln Financial Field were kitted out with protective shoes to shield them from the scorching asphalt.
Besides having their feet covered, the dogs are kept hydrated and limited to 20-minute patrols at a time. They also enjoy cooling baths in paddling pools filled with ice.
'Every dog team is different and there are different requirements; their precursors are different," said Cody Schwartz, manager of 3DK9 Detection Services, the private company providing the K9 teams at the stadium.
"However, we go by the seven-second rule. If us humans can't put our human backside or our hand on the concrete for longer than seven seconds, without pulling it off, then we require dog booties to go on.'
Otters at Oregon zoo keep cool in a bucket of ice.
It's not just dogs either. In Oregon zoo the river otters were kept cool with a large bucket of ice.
Four legs or two legs, the advice from health officials is to limit time spent in the direct sun where possible. Plan trips for cooler parts of the day and ensure you have enough water with you at all times.
Whilst compared to its European neighbours the UK temperatures appear far lower, for those not prepared for the heat temperatures above 30C can pose a real risk especially for those already considered vulnerable like the sick or elderly.
