The planet began climate change, which was expected only by the end of the century

It was believed that the establishment of a hot and humid climate in the tropics and subtropics, which would undermine the economy in these regions and exceed the limits of the physiological survival of people, will occur while maintaining the planet’s heating only by the end of the century. Scientists were mistaken - a new study states that these changes have already begun, and immediately on all continents, writes Hi-Tech +.

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According to a study by scientists from Columbia University in the USA, unprecedented heat and humidity are already becoming a reality in many places in Asia, Africa, Australia, South and North America, including the Gulf of Mexico. Along the Persian Gulf, they recorded several brief outbreaks that exceeded the theoretical threshold for human survival. So far, such cases occur in a limited area and last for several hours, but their frequency and intensity are increasing.

“Past research predicted that this would happen in a few decades, but ours shows that this is happening now,” said project manager Colin Raymond. “The duration of events is increasing, and the areas of impact are increasing in direct accordance with global warming.”

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Humidity is dangerous for humans, because it complicates the process of naturally cooling the body through sweat. Dry, hot air evaporates moisture from the body, lowering its temperature, but if the air is already moist, evaporation slows down and may even stop. In this case, the body heats above the survival threshold, and internal organs begin to fail. Even a physically prepared person, being in the shade and having enough drinking water at his disposal, can die in a few hours.

For the first time analyzing the hourly data of weather stations from 1979 to 2017 (no one had used this approach before - average values ​​for 6-hour or 12-hour periods were used), scientists found that the combination of high temperature and humidity doubled over the studied period. Multiple incidents occurred in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, northwestern Australia, along the Red Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as in various parts of Southeast Asia, southern China, subtropical Africa and the Caribbean.

Potentially fatal indicators have already been recorded 14 times in three cities of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE - Damman, Doha and Ras Al Khaimah - whose population is more than 3 million people.

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Incidents mainly occur on the banks of rivers, lakes or bays, where fumes increase air humidity. In some regions located deep in the mainland, monsoons or irrigation canals bring moisture. The poorest countries are most at risk, where residents have not only air conditioning, but also electricity, and they have to work in the open air to sustain life. The growing incidence of unbearable heat will sooner or later destroy their economy.

“Many areas of the Earth were much closer than expected to achieve sustained unbearable heat. We were previously thought to have a much greater margin of safety, ”commented Stephen Sherwood, a climatologist at the University of Australia of New South Wales, commenting on the results of the study.

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