In the Balkans, summer started with unstable and fresher weather conditions. For example, a temperature higher than 30.0 degrees Celsius (ºC) has not yet been recorded in Belgrade. this season (tropical day) In Montenegro, as well as in the countries of the region, temperatures have not yet reached the same level and stability as in previous years. On the other hand, in distant Siberia, a heat wave is in progress, which culminated on June 20, when the air temperature of as high as 38 degrees Celsius (ºC) was measured in the small town of Verhojanska.
High-tropical temperatures are no stranger to the area of Siberia in the warm part of the year, but what is unusual in the case of Verkhoyansk is that it is located within the Arctic Circle, more precisely at 67.6 degrees north latitude.
Therefore, a value of 38 degrees Celsius would not only be the absolute maximum temperature for this measuring site, but potentially the highest measured air temperature inside the Arctic Circle. Therefore, the World Meteorological Organization will verify this data, at the same time check the data archive, to determine if it is a new temperature record for the polar regions.
What can be particularly interesting is that the same atmospheric processes are responsible for the unusually warm weather in Verhojansk, as well as for this cooler or later start of summer in our area and that these two events are connected.
How unusual are the temperatures in Verhojansk?
Verkhoyansk is a small town in Siberia, which is known as one of the coldest inhabited places in the northern hemisphere. The absolute minimum temperature that was measured is -67.8ºC. The meteorological station in Verhojansk can boast of a very long series of meteorological measurements, since it has been continuously and reliably measuring data since 1885.
The previous absolute maximum air temperature in Verhojansk was 37.3ºC set on July 25, 1988. This year, not only is the record potentially broken by +0.7ºC, but it would be set more than a month earlier than the previous record. Verkhoyansk could have an incredible range of 105.8ºC between absolute minimum and maximum temperatures. The average maximum temperature for June is 19.9ºC so the value of 38ºC is significantly above average.
The cause of the heat wave
Although we are geographically separated by thousands of kilometers from Siberia, the same process in the atmosphere is responsible for the cooler and more unstable weather here, as well as the sunny and very warm conditions in Siberia. These are planetary-scale atmospheric waves, known as Rosby waves.
Rosby waves are one of the mechanisms by which heat is exchanged between warm tropical and cold polar regions and they greatly influence weather conditions. Under normal conditions, these waves move from west to east, and hence the variability of the weather in our country.
38 degrees was measured on June 20 in the small town of Verhojanska, in distant Siberia. There's a heat wave going on there
However, it sometimes happens that these waves become practically stationary, bringing similar weather conditions to a certain territory for days, weeks, and even months. These situations are usually responsible for extreme weather conditions such as prolonged and very hot and dry conditions in some areas and at the same time prolonged cool and rainy conditions in other areas. This is exactly the case for the past couple of weeks.
The air continuously circulates along the drawn path, but instead of the usual movement of the entire wave in the west-east direction, it happened that this wave was practically stationary. The area of Siberia has been in the warm wave sector for a long time, with the constant supply of warm air from lower latitudes, and sunny weather under the influence of the anticyclone (H), which combined led to record high temperatures in this part of the world.
Connection with climate change
Scientists suggest that the thermal imbalance of the atmosphere (global warming) will more often lead to the stationing of Rossby waves, thus to the more frequent occurrence of extreme weather conditions.
What is also worrying is the continuity and magnitude of the positive temperature anomaly in Russia in the previous months. Namely winter 2019-2020. was the warmest in Russia since country-level data have been monitored (since 1891), and the period January-May 2020 is currently the warmest in Russia since measurements have been made. The result is numerous forest fires at the moment and a record low level of sea ice over the Siberian Arctic. Large and high positive temperature anomalies have already become a feature of this century, so it is not surprising that heat records are appearing again and again.
How is the Balkans connected to this?
In this case, the stationing of Rosby waves "locked" the anticyclone north of our region, over the area of Scandinavia, which made it possible to renew the high-altitude cyclone over our region, which was responsible for frequent and abundant precipitation in the previous few weeks, which caused large problems with flooding.
This time, the stationing of Rosby waves in the Balkans was reflected in rainy and cooler conditions, but in previous years, due to this same process, there were longer periods of very warm and dry weather. A fresh example of this is the fall of 2019, which was marked by continuous warm and dry weather, so the fall of 2019 was the warmest in Serbia since measurements were taken.
The same atmospheric process is also responsible for the large floods that affected our region in 2014.
Everyone should know that the issue of climate change is important
The climate on planet Earth is changing and the cause of this is humans, according to the "Our Idea" segment of the klima101.rs portal.
"And while there is almost a consensus among scientists on this issue, there is still a significant number who do not think that human activities can cause climate change that threatens populations around the planet. This is a problem, because the solution to this challenge will require the agreement and action of all countries. Most of the activities that each of us performs during the day contribute to climate change because the main source of energy we use are fossil fuels. That is why the solution to this problem is very complex and it should not only be dealt with by scientists, but also by engineers, economists, doctors, lawyers... but also by everyone else who needs to show that this issue is important to them and to support the necessary measures," he writes. in the description.
It is further emphasized that "the goal of the Climate 101 project is to raise awareness and educate the population of our language area about the causes, consequences and dangers that threaten climate change".
"As well as the broader context of the entire problem and the possible ways to reach a consensus in society that is needed in order to adopt measures to reduce emissions and adapt to new climate conditions. Climate change should not be dealt with only by a small group of 'chosen', it is necessary to expand the circle of people who believe that this issue is important. This can best be achieved by being well informed and having an open conversation with everyone, both those who simply do not know enough about the topic and those who think that human activities cannot affect our climate. We hope that with our work, at least a little, we will contribute to that happening", says the Klima101 portal team.
www.klima101.rs
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