Climate crisis intensifies: Coastal areas may become unliveable by 2100, flags report

Source: Down To Earth

What is the news?

Millions in India are currently reeling under severe heatwaves. Scientists have warned that the rising climate crisis will make the situation more unbearable in the coming years.

A recent report by Climate Trends said that most parts of India experience 12-66 days of potentially deadly heat and humidity combinations in a year. The report also pointed out that the temperature will increase 4.3 degrees Celsius by 2100 relative to pre-industrial temperature.

Key findings of the report:

• Most of India experiences 12-66 days of a combination of potentially deadly heat and humidity, with hotspots along the east coast.
• The wet-bulb temperature will cross the deadly threshold for six months or more in another nine decades.
  • The human body reacts to a combination of heat and humidity known as the ‘wet-bulb temperature’. Wet-bulb temperature can be high even when the temperature is relatively low. Only a few humans can tolerate a wet-bulb temperature exceeding 35 °C because their bodies can no longer cool themselves.

Warnings of the report:

• The report warned of a substantial worsening of the situation even by 2050.
• The report also warns that in hot conditions, humans cool themselves by sweating; but if the humidity is too high, sweating no longer works, and the human also risks dangerous overheating.
• Air can hold more moisture with more heat, and the combined impact of heat and humidity becomes critical. With more warming under climate change impact, the combined impact of heat and humidity is set to rise.
• Heat and humidity combinations may also affect health and productivity. There are five physiological mechanisms, according to the report, which are triggered by heat exposure. They are,
  • Ischemia (reduced and restricted blood flow),
  • Heat cytotoxicity (cell death),
  • An inflammatory response (swelling),
  • Disseminated intravascular coagulation (abnormal blood clotting),
  • Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibres).
    These mechanisms affect seven vital organs: the brain, heart, intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs, and pancreas. “There are 27 lethal combinations of these mechanisms and organs that have been shown to be caused by heat,” the report said.