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Where would this take place? In places where the wet bulb temperature is already getting close to the limits of human endurance: https://www.theguardian.com/sc
by ljf 3y ago
Where would this take place? In places where the wet bulb temperature is already getting close to the limits of human endurance:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/31/why-you-need-to-worry-about-the-wet-bulb-temperature https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/31/why-you-need...
People can survive amazingly hot temperatures, as long as they can sweat - once the wet bulb temp gets far above 31c people are in trouble - the theoretical maximum is 35c.
We won't hit these wet bulb temps in places like the US or even much of Europe, but built up China, India etc are at risk of approaching these in our lifetimes, potentially far sooner.
- vlz 3y agoThank you! It is really important to emphasize that heat and humidity have both to be taken into account. To quote a relevant passage from the article you linked: > Concern often centres on the “threshold” or “critical” WBT for humans, the point at which a healthy person could survive for only six hours. This is usually considered to be 35C, approximately equivalent to an air temperature of 40C with a relative humidity of 75%. (At the UK’s 19 July peak temperature, relative humidity was approximately 25% and the wet-bulb temperature about 25C.) (WBT is Wet Bulb Temperature)
- NoGravitas 3y agoKSR's novel "The Ministry For the Future" starts with a graphic account of a 35C wet bulb event in India. The heat initially raises the demand for air conditioning, the demand for air conditioning over-stresses the electrical grid, the electrical grid fails so no one has air conditioning, millions die. I don't remember exactly when it's set; in the 2030s?