Q. The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 degree Celsius Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report?
I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Wet-bulb temperature is a measure that combines dry air temperature and humidity to indicate to reflect the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water. In essence, it is a measure of heat-stress conditions on humans.
When the wet-bulb temperature reaches 35 °C, it becomes extremely dangerous for humans and animals because sweat can no longer evaporate to cool the body. The World Bank has warned that parts of India, due to rising global temperatures and increasing humidity, could be among the first regions in the world where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C, posing a grave risk to life.
Statement I is correct: This statement accurately reflects the broader climatic risks that Peninsular India faces due to climate change, which are interconnected with the rise in wet-bulb temperatures.
The region’s tropical location makes it particularly vulnerable to intensified monsoon variability, resulting in both extreme rainfall events causing floods and cyclones, as well as periods of inadequate rainfall leading to droughts.
Therefore, while the World Bank’s warning emphasizes the health hazards of extreme heat and humidity, it also implicitly highlights that the same underlying climate shifts will exacerbate Peninsular India’s susceptibility to these damaging hydrometeorological events.
Statement II is correct: This statement accurately captures the core implication of the World Bank’s warning.
When wet-bulb temperatures exceed 35 °C, the human body can no longer effectively cool itself through sweating and evaporation, which are essential to regulate internal body temperature. This creates life-threatening conditions even for healthy individuals, and especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, outdoor workers, or those without access to cooling.
The same threat applies to many animal species, which also rely on various forms of heat dissipation.
Hence, this statement directly addresses the health and survival risks associated with extreme wet-bulb temperatures and correctly reflects the report’s concern.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/31/why-you-need-to-worry-about-the-wet-bulb-temperature
