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.
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.
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.