随着温室效应的加剧，全球变暖导致气温上升，同时空气湿度也有所增加，一旦超过某个阈值，湿热连锁反应将会给包括人类在内的诸多生物带来致命打击。想象一下，在一个温度恒定在50℃、湿度达90%的环境中长达数小时，这样的环境通常对普通人来说只能坚持15分钟，否则就会因体温过高而在煎熬中死去，而这种死亡方式比被锁进超市冷库更为痛苦。
科学家们发现，在一些大幅变暖的气候模型中，部分地区的温度和湿度综合水平已达到人类无法正常生存的地步。这种“湿热”对全人类都有致命威胁，无关年龄和身体状况，对其他陆生哺乳动物亦是如此。
为了评估这种极端情况，医生使用一种名为“暑热压力指数”的特殊衡量指标。这一指标最初由美方设计，用来评估新兵的热应激，现在则被用于跟踪监测运动员或是恶劣环境从业者——如煤矿工人——的身体状况。
研究表明，在针对波斯湾、中国和印度的气候模拟实验中，“暑热压力指数”所显示的湿温度可达35℃甚至40℃'s extreme heat and humidity levels, which is equivalent to 100% relative humidity at a temperature of 35°C or 60% relative humidity at a temperature of 40°C. These extreme conditions are unprecedented in recorded history and pose significant threats to human health and survival.
The main culprit behind this phenomenon is the blocking of atmospheric circulation patterns, leading to persistent heatwaves that cannot be alleviated by natural cooling mechanisms. As the global average temperature rises above 4-5°C, the air's ability to hold moisture increases exponentially, leading to an upward spiral of heat and humidity.
While some regions may experience occasional dry heat waves, it is the wet-bulb temperatures that pose a more significant threat. Wet-bulb temperatures combine both heat and humidity into a single metric that measures how hot it feels outside when factoring in both temperature and relative humidity.
According to climate models, parts of Asia could reach wet-bulb temperatures as high as 32-33°C for several weeks per year by the end of this century. This would make outdoor activities dangerous even during cooler months due to the combination of high temperatures and high humidity.
The consequences are far-reaching: economic losses from crop failures, reduced productivity in agriculture, increased mortality rates among vulnerable populations such as children under five years old or elderly people with chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes; these all contribute towards creating an environment where life becomes increasingly difficult for many people worldwide.
Climate change has become one major issue we need pay attention on today because it affects our planet’s future so much!
标签： 基础地理
