(Washington Insider Magazine)-Temperatures around the globe are rising due to global warming, spiking concern about the sizzling summer temperatures in countries north of the Equator. With wildfires flooding European cities and consuming the food supply, experts raise questions about the viability of life in Dubai for humans since temperatures and humidity levels are at a record-breaking high.
On August 5, the Iranian city of Abdan recorded boiling temperatures of 127 degrees Fahrenheit combined with extreme humidity levels, making it difficult for humans to regulate their body temperatures. This combination of high humidity and extreme temperatures is called wet bulb temperature – which is an indicator of worsening global warming.
This phenomenon receives its name from the way temperatures are monitored. By wrapping a saturated piece of cloth around a thermometer and assessing the temperatures as the water vaporizes. This serves as an illustrative example of how our bodies adapt to high temperatures through sweating.
However, if the wet bulb temperature exceeds 35C, the body cannot regulate its temperature, and it will begin to shut down. Temps below 35C is not the best conditions for the body because heat stress and exhaustion can still be experienced.
Less wealthy countries in the Persian Gulf are subjected to these extreme conditions because they cannot access rigorous air conditioning systems like oil-rich states of the United Arab Emirates.
The city advised employees in Basra to stay home from work due to extreme heat conditions. Many residents are forced to cool off with limited use of electricity. In some Arab states, electricity is restricted to no more than 2 hours per day. While other governments allow ten hours of use.
In the city of Gaza, citizens are subjected to 20-hour stretches without electricity in their homes. Researchers from Perdue University have discovered working in wet bulb temperatures of 32C is nearly impossible, which prevents necessary outdoor work from being completed.
A study conducted at MIT concluded if greenhouse emission gas continues to rise in the Persian Gulf at its current rates, wet bulb temperatures would go beyond the limit for human durability.
