Call it nature’s version of “living beyond our means”.
Man-made carbon emissions, if not brought into sufficient check, may imperil up to half the world’s population by the turn of the century, exceeding livable limits.
A new term has been brought into the popular lexicon, “wet bulb temperature (WBT)” and that measures the combined effect of both outside temperature and humidity. A WBT of 95 degrees F (35c) will kill even the fittest human within 6 hours as a result of severe heat stroke. There’s very few places on the earth that reach this level and when they do, it’s only for very brief periods of time.
With the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, under worst case scenario projections, a 95F WBT conbined temperature effect could be common place in certain areas of the world, including areas of the Middle East, the source for much of the world’s oil reserves.
According to Purdue University Researchers:
“Researchers for the first time have calculated the highest tolerable “wet-bulb” temperature and found that this temperature could be exceeded for the first time in human history in future climate scenarios if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated.
Wet-bulb temperature is equivalent to what is felt when wet skin is exposed to moving air. It includes temperature and atmospheric humidity and is measured by covering a standard thermometer bulb with a wetted cloth and fully ventilating it.”
Think about this.
What if in the 1920’s our leaders were presented this same possible scenario and chose instead to focus on the more immediate concerns of their day? We would now be facing our own version of “2100” that would be right around the corner for us.
This new report offers a cautionary reminder, for all the problems facing human civilization in our time, climate change is our most pressing matter.
We still have time to act.
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