Penn State researchers found that the maximum wet-bulb temperature humans can endure is lower than previously thought — about 31°C wet-bulb or 87°F at 100% humidity — even for young, healthy subjects. The temperature for older populations, who are more vulnerable to heat, is likely even lower.
I've never heard the term wet bulb before this post, and I feel like I'm not smart enough to understand the implications other than things are getting too hot and humid for people to survive.
So is wet bulb temperature specifically the cutoff point where humans can survive? Or does it just refer to any temperature with 100% humidity? (Like, today's temperature is going to be 75 degrees with 100 percent humidity, for example) I hope that question makes sense.
The worry is that a densely populated area, usually Bangladesh is where people are worried about, is going to get at or close to the wet bulb temperature for a long period of time. And if it's hot and damp enough, and it lasts long enough, then the theory goes that everyone without access to AC will eventually die. Like entire cities, entire provinces kind of thing. The less developed an area is the more vulnerable it is because it will have less access to AC and refrigeration. Old people die first because they're much more vulnerable to heat stress. But young people will die en masse too if it's bad enough for long enough.
That's absolutely horrifying. I'm assuming that it's some naïve, lib part of me that wants to ask if this is 💯 percent inevitable. But we're not going to be making any progress on combating climate change. Not with the course we're on now.
I've never heard the term wet bulb before this post, and I feel like I'm not smart enough to understand the implications other than things are getting too hot and humid for people to survive.
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"It's a dry heat" is a real thing, the dryness lets you cool by sweating. If it is a wet heat ur dead
The wet bulb point is the temperature + humidity when sweating no longer cools you down. Since sweating is how we avoid heat stroke this is bad.
So is wet bulb temperature specifically the cutoff point where humans can survive? Or does it just refer to any temperature with 100% humidity? (Like, today's temperature is going to be 75 degrees with 100 percent humidity, for example) I hope that question makes sense.
the former
The worry is that a densely populated area, usually Bangladesh is where people are worried about, is going to get at or close to the wet bulb temperature for a long period of time. And if it's hot and damp enough, and it lasts long enough, then the theory goes that everyone without access to AC will eventually die. Like entire cities, entire provinces kind of thing. The less developed an area is the more vulnerable it is because it will have less access to AC and refrigeration. Old people die first because they're much more vulnerable to heat stress. But young people will die en masse too if it's bad enough for long enough.
That's absolutely horrifying. I'm assuming that it's some naïve, lib part of me that wants to ask if this is 💯 percent inevitable. But we're not going to be making any progress on combating climate change. Not with the course we're on now.