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Old Posted Mar 28, 2017, 3:52 AM
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Live in a megacity? Prepare for deadly heat even if Paris climate goals met
Quote:
In a 2 degree Celsius-warmer world, Kolkata could experience deadly conditions at least once a year

Tom Matthews | The Conversation March 28, 2017 Last Updated at 08:41 IST

Deadly heat stress is projected to affect hundreds of millions more people each year under relatively little additional climate warming. The Paris Agreement commits the international community to limit global warming to no more than 2 degree Celsius above pre-industrial (late 19th century) air temperatures, with an aspirational target of 1.5 degree Celsius. In our latest research, which looked at the impact of global temperature rises on magacities, we found that even if 1.5 degree Celsius is achieved, large increases in the frequency of deadly heat are expected. The Conversation

By 2050 about 350m more people living in megacities could be exposed to deadly heat each year.

Humans become “heat stressed” when the body absorbs more heat than is tolerable. If core body temperature rises just a few degrees above 37 degree Celsius, deadly heatstroke can result. By using its cooling system – sweating – the human body can maintain a safe temperature even if air temperatures rise above 37 degree Celsius. This mechanism works better in a drier atmosphere (which is why steam rooms feel hotter than saunas – even at the same air temperature). The heat index is a measure that combines this humidity effect with air temperature to provide a “feels like” temperature. A heat index in excess of about 40.6 degree Celsius is considered dangerous to human health.

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