Climate change may make it impossible for future humans to survive outdoors
during the hottest summer days:
The most extreme manifestation of this heat is calculated using a measure of the most stifling conditions the body can endure. It’s called the Humid Heat Stroke Index, or HHSI, which takes into account both heat and humidity. At an HHSI level of 95 degrees, the human body can’t keep its core cool enough for survival, even at rest. [...]
An HHSI level of 95 degrees has only been recorded just once, in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 2003, according to today’s report. The outside temperature reached 108 degrees, and the dew point hit 95 degrees, making it life threatening to go outside.
If humans continue to pollute greenhouse gases on the current trajectory, the average Midwesterner could see an HHSI at the level of 95 degrees two days every year by the end of this century. By the end of next century it will be impossible to remain outdoors without a cooling system for 20 days a year.
Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2002—House Dems push 9-11 commission:
Even though the issue looked dead, pushed to the background by the nation's worsening economic situation, House Democrats won their bid to create an independent 9-11 commission. |
Tweet of the Day
95% of all new created wealth now goes to the top 1% but Rand Paul, Ted Cruz & Jeb Bush all have plans to get it up to 96.
— @JohnFugelsang
On
today's Kagro in the Morning show,
Greg Dworkin and
Joan McCarter join us to round up the stories of the day. NC's Outer Banks are largely doomed, but the real estate industry wants to pretend it's not so. Primary elections wrapped up in MS, NY & elsewhere. Crappy-looking GDP numbers give everyone a scare, but there's a twist. NN14 is coming up fast! A federal court finds due process fault with the "no-fly list." The Detroit water crisis. More filibuster follies. Speaking of which, it's the 1 year anniversary of Wendy Davis' Texas filibuster, and her campaign's looking for supporters' help in marking it. SCOTUS decides on cell phone searches. And one BIG GunFAIL.
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