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‘Unbearable’ heat in Delhi is testing limits of human survival (wapo.st)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/climate@slrpnk.net
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Note that there are two common "wet bulb" temperatures used in discussion:

  • Wet Bulb Globe Temperature - this tells you that physical activity (including work) in unshaded locations can kill healthy adults and is used in this article
  • Wet Bulb Temperature - this tells you whether it is hot enough to kill the bulk of the population for just sitting still in the shade with access to plenty of water

A Washington Post analysis found that the wet-bulb globe temperature, which measures the amount of heat stress on the human body, reached 97 degrees to 100 degrees (36 to 38 Celsius) in Delhi on Tuesday. That is higher than the 89.6 Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) threshold that researchers have identified as posing a risk to human survival if such heat is prolonged. The wet-bulb globe temperature is based on a combination of factors including temperature, humidity, wind and clouds, and was calculated by The Post using data from a nearby weather station.

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[-] psvrh@lemmy.ca 11 points 5 months ago

Yup, but it's possible to slow that rate and (if we're smart and motivated) geoengineer ways to reverse it.

Again, though, it would require the rich to make less money.

But yes, in general I agree with you; even if we pull out the stops we're already locked into some kind of increase, but that worse part is that it seems like we're going to do is go hell-for-leather because the rich don't have all the money yet.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 5 points 5 months ago

Not defending billionaires here, cause fuckem.

But it would also mean complete upending of what everyone "normal" expects out of their lives too.

No more cars, no more bananas, no more Amazon, no more Netflix, etc.

Every normal thing people expect would have to go, and be replaced with whatever local version exists,if it relies on global trade.

Again, I'm not defending anything in particular, but highlighting that getting general consensus will be very, very hard.

I personally believe most humans are good with billions dying if it means they can try to live on in their "normal" fashion.

When it really gets to their doorstep, the option to make changes will be fully, fully gone

this post was submitted on 29 May 2024
116 points (98.3% liked)

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