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Human-Survivability-Threshold-0.mp3
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
[Outro]
A SCIENCE NOTE: WET-BULB TEMPERATURES
Wet-bulb temperatures above 31°C (87.8°F) are extremely dangerous — at these levels, the human body cannot cool itself through sweating, even in the shade, leading to potentially fatal heat stress within hours. While these thresholds have historically been rare outside the tropics, parts of the U.S. are have breached this limit — something that used to be considered virtually impossible in the U.S. climate.
Here are the U.S. regions most at risk and already showing wet-bulb temperatures exceeding 31°C or very close — often 2–3 standard deviations above historical norms:
Already observed wet-bulb temperatures > 31°C, especially during heatwaves with high humidity and stagnant air.
This region is closest in climate to subtropical zones, with high Gulf moisture and intense solar heating.
Notable Event: July 2023 saw Brownsville record a wet-bulb of 31.2°C, nearing human survivability thresholds.
High humidity from the Gulf + high temps create perfect storm conditions for wet-bulb extremes.
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have clocked wet-bulb temps around 30.5°C to 31.0°C in recent summers.
Trend: Average summer humidity and nighttime minimum temps have increased significantly since the 1980s.
Very high baseline humidity and increasing urban heat island effects are pushing wet-bulb temps near critical thresholds.
Miami-Dade’s urban core can hit 30.5°C wet-bulb, with some inland areas (Everglades edge) hitting 31°C under stagnant conditions.
While not traditionally at risk, heat dome events have caused spikes in wet-bulb readings in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.
Wet-bulbs of 29.5°C–30.5°C were observed during July 2023 under extreme dew points (~80°F) and triple-digit heat.
Typically hot but dry, these regions have avoided extreme wet-bulb temps historically.
However, monsoonal moisture and climate shifts are making 30°C+ wet-bulb temps more common — especially during nighttime heatwaves when humidity is trapped.
URGENT CLIMATE WARNING
At this level of heating, large regions of the planet will become uninhabitable due to extreme heat, sea level rise, agricultural collapse, and mass migration. Critically, parts of the U.S. are already experiencing wet-bulb temperatures approaching or exceeding 31°C (87.8°F) — a physiological limit beyond which the human body can no longer regulate its internal temperature, even in the shade with ample water.
By Human-Survivability-Threshold-0.mp3
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[Chorus]
[Outro]
A SCIENCE NOTE: WET-BULB TEMPERATURES
Wet-bulb temperatures above 31°C (87.8°F) are extremely dangerous — at these levels, the human body cannot cool itself through sweating, even in the shade, leading to potentially fatal heat stress within hours. While these thresholds have historically been rare outside the tropics, parts of the U.S. are have breached this limit — something that used to be considered virtually impossible in the U.S. climate.
Here are the U.S. regions most at risk and already showing wet-bulb temperatures exceeding 31°C or very close — often 2–3 standard deviations above historical norms:
Already observed wet-bulb temperatures > 31°C, especially during heatwaves with high humidity and stagnant air.
This region is closest in climate to subtropical zones, with high Gulf moisture and intense solar heating.
Notable Event: July 2023 saw Brownsville record a wet-bulb of 31.2°C, nearing human survivability thresholds.
High humidity from the Gulf + high temps create perfect storm conditions for wet-bulb extremes.
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have clocked wet-bulb temps around 30.5°C to 31.0°C in recent summers.
Trend: Average summer humidity and nighttime minimum temps have increased significantly since the 1980s.
Very high baseline humidity and increasing urban heat island effects are pushing wet-bulb temps near critical thresholds.
Miami-Dade’s urban core can hit 30.5°C wet-bulb, with some inland areas (Everglades edge) hitting 31°C under stagnant conditions.
While not traditionally at risk, heat dome events have caused spikes in wet-bulb readings in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.
Wet-bulbs of 29.5°C–30.5°C were observed during July 2023 under extreme dew points (~80°F) and triple-digit heat.
Typically hot but dry, these regions have avoided extreme wet-bulb temps historically.
However, monsoonal moisture and climate shifts are making 30°C+ wet-bulb temps more common — especially during nighttime heatwaves when humidity is trapped.
URGENT CLIMATE WARNING
At this level of heating, large regions of the planet will become uninhabitable due to extreme heat, sea level rise, agricultural collapse, and mass migration. Critically, parts of the U.S. are already experiencing wet-bulb temperatures approaching or exceeding 31°C (87.8°F) — a physiological limit beyond which the human body can no longer regulate its internal temperature, even in the shade with ample water.