For the longest time wet bulb temperatures of 35°C and above were considered to be the human survivability threshold.

However a new study, who’s goal was to help people better prepare for heat waves found that the threshold was lower. (See https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00738.2021)

After analyzing their data, the researchers found that critical wet-bulb temperatures ranged from 25°C to 28°C in hot-dry environments and from 30°C to 31°C in warm-humid environments — all lower than the long-held 35°C wet-bulb theory.

“Our results suggest that in humid parts of the world, we should start to get concerned — even about young, healthy people — when it's above 31 degrees wet-bulb temperature.”—W. Larry Kenney, professor of physiology and kinesiology and Marie Underhill Noll Chair in Human Performance.

This is of particular interest to people living in the equatorial belt as we continue to heat.

#ClimateLiteracy #WetBulbTemeratures