Climate Change leading to rise of Wet-Bulb Temperatures harming Human Health

For more on Climate Change, visit downtoearth.org.in
On July 1, 2021, Delhi experienced a heatwave, when the maximum temperature rose to 43.5°C. At the same time, Ganganagar, in west Rajasthan, reported India's highest temperature of 44.5°C. Some pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh still continue to face heat wave conditions. This issue is now prevalent world over. But the world is not only getting hotter but also more wetter or humid.
We usually consider the dry-bulb temperature to describe how hot or cold a place is. Scientists, however, have been stressing upon taking into account humidity and other factors to assess how weather conditions will affect human health and activity. Humidity is measured as wet-bulb temperature. Factoring in the humidity along with the heat, called the heat index, helps us determine what the temperature actually ‘feels like’. You may have noticed this in your mobile phones and apps as well. Humidity combined with heat is deadlier for human health and wellbeing. Currently, one phenomenon is severely testing the human tolerance of this heat-humidity balance. Climate Change!
Humans with their sweat-based cooling system, have been well-designed to beat the heat. But there is a limit to the level of heat and humidity we can cope with. A wet-bulb temperature or WBT of 35°C mark is considered the maximum limit of humidity that humans can handle. Beyond this, the body can no longer effectively cool itself via perspiration.
Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

[@roopa4950]

Yes its happening earlier like rajasthan, UP never experience humidity and now becoming more humid day by day. In Punjab also weather is so humid and no rain

[@slpification]

Thank you for the video, the much needed voice over and slow paced video, so so much better than the last IPCC one, loved it 🙏

[@swami164]

Very inspiring vedio , but cost of installation is high . Can you please tell for 1 MW how much money a farmer should have to install these solar plants.

[@gidkideon]

Thank you for the video. This is a subject not talked about enough. People only focus on the temps and not humidity and neglect talking about wet bulb.

[@matthewdolan5831]

The last sentance "... climate extremes beyond human comprehension"...is succinct.

[@himanshuk177]

We all need to help mother earth to retreat itself. Spreading knowledge is the first step. Thanks you folks you'r doing good job.

[@oneshothunter9877]

Agree on the most of your comment, but the very last part, not so much. Overall I think, we're not doing a good job.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

In other words, when the Wet Bulb temperature reaches approximately the normal temperature rate of a healthy body, the exterior humidity will be nearly the same as the internal body heat. The ability to cool off becomes difficult. AC will be necessary, cold, or ice water.

[@palavpalavets5911]

What a nonsense is this!? Temperatures of 36.6 ( normal body temperatures ) are no threat at all.What is a threat is high humidity that prevents sweat from evaporation off one's skin.

[@ocarrace]

​@@palavpalavets5911he said wet bulb temperature. Not regular temperature.

[@earthsafehomes]

Nobody does even 1% towards nature, unless affected. And the affects will be jolting/shocking to our existence. It's NOW or NEVER 🌿🙏🌍

[@yugdarshan]

Trees might help cool the local environment and lower the Heat Index

[@samuraitabernac3050]

Aaand they’re all on fire

[@mctwain5319]

Wet bulb temperature will now be the standard scale everywhere ! 😢

[@JiyavuddinMohammed]

Very informative and must be shared across all universities, colleges, schools and all govt platforms to raise awareness.

[@NF-ru8on]

Imagine the migration volume that's gonna be seen in the next 50 years. How much of these regions will remain livable? Where will all the people go?

[@munilalkepskills7884]

Thanks so much

[@nosom7]

Only solution is grow forests and reduce consumption.

[@godspeed7717]

No, a climate lockdown may help.

[@swami164]

Thanks a down to earth team for such thought provoking vedios

[@sajain]

Great Documentary

[@hangoutwithsid]

this pandamic has given us a great chance to sit back and think, now when we are about to go back to the normal life we must make some changes to our "normal life" and start doing all the things that we have learnt and has become very important!!

[@dayanandshah1014]

What a nice video👏

[@siddhi373]

Killings for yukky taste , cruelty for food is the main big cause apart from the development.

[@hangoutwithsid]

amazing work..

[@havenmist2216]

Many more people die of excess cold than excess heat. A warming planet is saving total lives.

[@abhiramickckck9037]

Well explained 👍🏻

[@swami164]

Nice vedio

[@danagovil1469]

Plant trees everyone- go live in villages

[@vthilton]

Save Our Planet

[@ps-ic8pm]

Outstanding video, thank you from USA!

[@matthewdolan5831]

Comprehensive and clear - I fear that we are on a faster trajectory even than 8.5....

[@squamish4244]

Actually, there is some good news in that the upper limit nightmare scenarios now appear to be unrealistic. However, 3.5 C by the end of the century is still nightmarish and we must do everything we can to avoid this.

[@sujesh4684]

Now I can explain why I moved to Bangalore..

[@anjanikumar6742]

The number of views on this video tells you about the preferences being made by the society.

[@priyanshu3863]

Very few human live after 2080

[@Mag1cA]

Commenting to trick the ultra rich algorithm!

[@Rahul-ki8ps]

Thank you for this detailed video on the topic of impact of increasing humidity in hot places, and especially for focusing on India-specific assessments. Have subscribed and looking forward to more.

[@vijayamohandharmavaram5404]

Somebody said global warming is a myth

[@deWiAnNaEnEcBi3857]

Don't listen what they're saying. They're uneducated, less educated, cruel, dumb and criminals just like people whose believe in flat earth or whose don't believe that corona virus is a real thing or whose people that believe any other animals don't feel any pain when human torture to them..... 🙏🙏

[@jaylockwood5030]

climate change is a religion

[@deWiAnNaEnEcBi3857]

@@jaylockwood5030 😂😂 And which people are create this religion?????

[@godspeed7717]

I'm one of them.

[@sci-filover7541]

In short we will be steam cooked

[@SarbbottamBandyopadhyay]

It is now or never, we must take the action at an individual level to reduce the carbon footprint instead of waiting for the country heads. If you brought your future generations to this world and don't want to be cursed by them, then please put forward your individual effort and reduce carbon footprint. If we start focusing on our need instead of the wants, we will definitely add to improving the climate. Please pause and think. Thank you!

[@deWiAnNaEnEcBi3857]

Absolutely right brother..👍👍❤️

[@dvgayle1]

Baloney

[@craigkdillon]

With CO2 levels rising at 2.5+ppm annually, we can expect to blast right through that 2C limit. In fact, we can expect, IMO, to go to +4C before it stabilizes. High wet-bulb temperatures will make many tropical areas uninhabitable. That is, the current local populations will be killed off. If not, then the crop failures will starve the populations, and kill them that way. Cheery news. Isn't it?

[@thevindictive6145]

It starts in the tropics and slowing works it way all over the world. Nobody will be spared. Even Tartigrades are expected to die when this climate change is over. Also its already +4C already, unless you have been listening to the very politically and industry influenced IPCC.

[@palmtree_]

Nuclear power plants is the way to go

[@Vikas-zd1rj]

Elon musk will help everybody

[@godspeed7717]

New leader for the new word.

[@davidkramer7034]

Are you insane?

[@shonashelar78]

Lol

[@kirstinstrand6292]

Musk speaks from BOTH sides of his mouth.