A 1.5 ° C rise in temperature in the tropics will be fatal to humans

Survival limit

Researchers estimate that if countries limit warming to 1.5°C more

pre-industrial levels, the tropics will not experience temperatures exceeding the “survival limit.” But life in the world's hottest latitudes can become unbearable if these controls are not followed.

Research published in NatureGeoscience, took into account the heat and humidity of the tropics. The fact is that the body doesn't just react to temperature, it reacts to humidity. The body cools down mainly due to sweating and evaporation of sweat from the skin. At a certain temperature and humidity, this becomes “thermodynamically difficult,” the scientists explain.

They believe that a wet bulb temperature (WBT) of 35°C is the upper limit for humans. 

Wet bulb thermometer concept

Wet bulb temperature istemperature read by a thermometer covered with a cloth soaked in water through which air is passed. At 100% relative humidity, the wet bulb temperature is equal to the air temperature (dry bulb temperature); at a lower level, it is lower due to evaporative cooling. 

Even people adapted to the heat cannotengage in normal outdoor activities below 32 ° C wet bulb. This is equivalent to a thermal index of 55 ° C. The theoretical limit of human survival for more than a few hours in the shade even with unlimited water is 35 ° C, which is theoretically equivalent to a thermal index of 70 ° C.

The body usually maintains a fairlystable internal temperature - 37 ° C. A person's skin needs to be colder, otherwise the person's internal temperature can rise rapidly. High temperatures are dangerous or even fatal.

Implications for the tropics

In a new study, scientists predictedHow global warming will affect wet-bulb temperatures in the tropics. This region includes the Amazon rainforest, much of Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and parts of Southeast Asia. They found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would prevent tropical temperatures from rising to unbearable levels.

According to the Paris Agreement, the internationalUnder the climate change agreement, countries need to limit global warming to “well below” 2 ° C, and better to 1.5 ° C above pre-industrial levels.

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