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New Threats To Humanity

How would our species survive the heat?

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This article attracted my attention, because global climate change is NOT something I often think about when I first wake up! Yet, it is something that we can no longer ignore, as it goes beyond the obvious weather changes and hurricane. Now, “wet bulb temperature” IS something to think about, particularly that I am now living in that geographical region!

” In the last few years a considerable amount of research has been undertaken, and show would uncover have suggested a human survivability threshold based on wet bulb temperature. Wet bulb temperature is a measure of temperature and humidity, it will always be lower than the air temperature, for example an air temperature of 39°C with a humidity of 50%, and the pressure of 1000 mbar, gives a wet bulb temperature of 29.59°C. High temperatures and levels of humidity are frequently found in the Arabian / Persian Gulf during the summer months. If we take an extreme level of temperature, such as the 46°C recorded in Bandar Mahshahr, Iran on 31 July 2016, and a humidity of 49%, this gives a wet bulb temperature of 34.6°C.”

“According to Im et al, “human exposure to Tw [wet bulb temperature] of around 35°C for even a few hours will result in death even for the fittest humans under shaded, well ventilated conditions.”[2] They add, “while TW well below 35°C can poise dangerous conditions most humans, 35°C can be considered upper limit on human survivability in a natural (not air-conditioned) environment.”[3] In practice, any wet bulb temperature exceeding 31˚C, which lasts for any period, represents a threat to human life, particularly to the very young, the elderly and the sick.”

How would we, as a collective human race,  adapt to the global climate change; and the underlying and immediately threatening factors? The author concludes his article by saying:

“In some regions, notably the Middle East, but also including parts of south Asia, areas well become increasingly uninhabitable during summer months, resulting in even more pressures to migrate to cooler climates, a process which is likely to be resisted by those regions, less affected by climate change.”

Read full article here.


About Sahar Huneidi-Palmer (83 Articles)

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