What happens when the weather stops moving? In August 2003, a vast dome of high pressure settled over Europe. The skies remained cloudless. The heat refused to break. By the time the atmosphere finally shifted, tens of thousands of people had died. Why do these "stuck" weather patterns occur? More importantly, is climate change making them more common? The Stuck Sky takes readers inside one of the most fascinating and unresolved debates in modern climate science. Following the invisible river of air known as the jet stream, Ivo Mercer explains how atmospheric blocking shapes heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cold outbreaks-and why scientists continue to disagree about whether a warming Arctic is changing the behavior of the atmosphere itself. Written in an engaging narrative style, this book combines the drama of historic weather disasters with the latest scientific research, explaining complex ideas through clear storytelling rather than technical jargon. You will discover: • How the jet stream controls weather across the Northern Hemisphere • Why atmospheric blocking creates deadly heatwaves and catastrophic floods • What Arctic amplification means-and why it matters • The competing scientific theories behind persistent weather extremes • How climate scientists investigate uncertainty using observations, models, and evidence Perfect for readers of popular science, climate, geography, and environmental history, The Stuck Sky offers a balanced, accessible exploration of one of the most important scientific questions of our time.
