The second part of IPCC 6th assessment report refers to wet-bulb temperatures, a measure that combines heat and humidity.
What is a wet-bulb temperature?
- A Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure.
- It is measured by wrapping a wet wick around the bulb of a thermometer and the measured temperature corresponds to the wet bulb temperature.
- A wet-bulb temperature of 31 degrees Celsius is extremely dangerous for humans, while a value of 35 degrees is unsurvivable for more than about six hours, even for fit and healthy adults.
What says the IPCC report?
- At present, wet-bulb temperatures in India rarely exceed 31 degrees C, with most of the country experiencing maximum wet-bulb temperatures of 25-30 degrees C, according to IPCC.
- It notes that if emissions are cut, but only by the levels currently promised, many parts of northern and coastal India would reach extremely dangerous wet-bulb temperatures of over 31 degrees C towards the end of the century.
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