For the first time, humans were exposed to a deadly combination of heat and humidity. Here's how long they lasted
For the first time, humans were exposed to a deadly combination of heat and humidity. Here's how long they lasted
Heatwaves loom as a growing threat to humanity in a warming climate. This summer alone, in the northern hemisphere, thousands have died during extreme heat events. It's driving researchers to find out more about the point when heat turns deadly.
Meanwhile, DeSantis removed outdoor worker protections in a state that has had wet bulb temperatures above 35°C (95°F).
Similar in Texas, though the whole state isn't near as humid as Florida.
High humidity is what creates a higher wet bulb temperature. A 95°F wet bulb temperature is achieved when it’s 95°F outside with 100% humidity. The lower the humidity, the higher the temperature needs to be to hit the 95°F wet bulb temperature.
Wet bulb temperature matters most to animals with sweat glands, like humans. In higher humidity, it’s more difficult for our bodies to cool through sweat evaporation.
The "first time"? Maybe in a controlled environment, but certainly not the first time. People already die from heat exhaustion around the world.
Also, the deadly factor really seems to be time rather than heat and humidity. Saunas are 65-90c with very high humidity and those are generally fine as long as you don't stay in too long.
I misread lasted as tasted. I've never been curious about that.
I think I always forget what wet bulb is exactly because these events are relatively rare, geographically isolated, and don't last long enough to be the specific cause of death. We get lots of heat death but not (35C100%H) heat death. The article says that we won't see sustained wet bulb temps this century.
Interesting takeaway:
"“What this new model shows is, when you take into account the limitations of human physiology, these upper wet-bulb temperature limits look as though they are much lower under certain types of conditions.”
Since I can never remember what wet bulb is, this video does a good job explaining it:
Sorry, nonsense
People have been dying from heat in droves since decades ago. I recall 10-20 years ago a heatwave that overflowed morgues in France.
Not saying that climate change isn't real or not disastrous, it is and so much more.
Just that this title is misleading at best
There are examples of exceptional heatwaves like the one you're thinking about. The article is about testing people under controlled conditions to figure out exactly where the point that things go from 'healthy adults will be fine' to 'not just the sick, pregnant, young, and elderly suffer, but huge chunks of the population die'
Those were heat waves, an infrequent hot period in the middle of otherwise normal weather. But now this is the new normal, this is what people are expected to live in and work under. That heat wave in France is now the everyday weather. That's why this matters and why you sound so insignificant.