Think European Summers Are Hot? Humans Are Close To Thermal Limits Elsewhere
Already heat-stressed countries will see the largest absolute increases in humid-heat and have the least ability to adapt.
- Tom Matthews
". . .Narratives around such acute, local events detract from critical messages about the global challenges from extreme heat.
Make no mistake, maximum temperatures of 35°C or more are hot by UK standards, but such conditions are familiar to around 80% of the world’s population.
The headline-grabbing 46°C experienced by Britain’s neighbours in France in 2019 is indeed unusual, but still falls short of the 50°C recorded in India that same year, and is somewhat temperate relative to the 54°C confirmed for both Pakistan (in 2017) and Kuwait (in 2016).
People in these hotter climates are better at coping with high temperatures, yet such heat still kills.
Deadly heatwaves are, of course, no stranger to Europeans.
- The infamous 2003 event claimed as many as 70,000 lives, and 2010 saw more than 50,000 fatalities in western Russia.
- Fortunately, lessons were learned and authorities are now much better prepared when heat-health alerts are issued.
But spare a thought for less fortunate communities who are
routinely experiencing extraordinary temperatures.
- In places like South Asia and the Persian Gulf, the human body, despite all its remarkable thermal efficiencies, is often operating close to its limits.
And yes, there is a limit. . ."
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