Thread by @umairh

We need to talk about wet bulb temperature.

We're moving from the era of global warming to "the era of global boiling." In the not so distant future, we won't check just the temperature before we head outdoors — we’ll check the “heat index,” or the wet bulb temperature. 1/6

Wet bulb temperature: what is it? A new way to think about temperature. It factors in humidity. At a WB temperature of 50°C and 8 to 15% humidity, we hit the danger zone.

Places around the world are edging towards that limit. Already. 2/6

eand.co/are-we-beginni…

The importance? A WB temperature represents the threshold at which the human body can’t cool itself anymore. The brain swells, the organs stop working.

So think of it like this: it’s not just the temperature, but its real equivalent on human functioning. 3/6

Wet bulb temperature is typically lower than “the” temperature. If it's 40°C with 50% humidity, the WB temperature is much lower because humidity hampers the body's cooling function.

It's not about whether "it's that hot!" It's about our body's ability to survive. 4/6

The limits of human survivability are lower than we once thought. New research says our WB threshold is well below 35°C.

Places like Arizona are hitting that danger zone now, not in some distant future of 2050. It's happening. Today. 5/6

We're entering an age where landscapes combust and going outside might just cost you your life. We're hitting the limits of human habitability now.

It's time to get acquainted with the concepts we’ll need to survive this new age. Are you ready? 6/6

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