NASA Issues Grim Forecast: Selected Regions Uninhabitable by 2050 - startling recently released research discloses
In a groundbreaking report published in Science Advances in 2020, NASA emphasised the urgent need for coordinated global action to address the climate crisis, particularly focusing on extreme heat and humidity. The study used advanced satellite data and climate models to assess the growing threat of heat stress, integrating both ambient temperature and air humidity to measure the human body's ability to dissipate heat through sweating.
One of the regions at highest risk of becoming uninhabitable due to extreme heat and humidity by 2050 is the Indo-Gangetic Plain, spanning parts of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This area faces deadly heat stress where high humidity combined with rising temperatures could cause wet-bulb temperatures approaching or exceeding 35°C (95°F), a threshold beyond which even a healthy person cannot survive for more than a few hours, even in the shade with unlimited water.
This vulnerability arises because the wet-bulb temperature measures the combined effects of heat and humidity on the body's ability to cool itself by sweating. The Indo-Gangetic Plain's intense humidity, driven partly by pollution aerosol effects that have so far moderated temperature rise, is pushing the region toward lethal conditions despite slower warming compared to other regions.
The study's lead author, Colin Raymond, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, warns of the urgent need for action on climate change. "The findings of our study serve as a reminder that climate change is a present reality with potentially catastrophic consequences for human habitability in certain regions," he said.
Other low-lying, humid regions across the tropics and subtropics could face similar uninhabitable conditions due to this combined heat and humidity effect. This is a consequence of accelerating climate change with increases in temperature and moisture content of the atmosphere, particularly in densely populated and agriculturally important river basins.
The study also highlighted the importance of adaptive strategies, such as urban planning, improved building codes, early warning systems, and community resilience, to address the infrastructure challenges posed by extreme heat and humidity. Reduced productivity and potential displacement of populations is an economic impact of extreme heat and humidity, as well as concerns about changes in crop viability and food security.
The time for action on climate change is now, to work towards a more sustainable and livable future for all. Drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in renewable energy sources, promoting sustainable development practices, and enhancing international cooperation on climate issues are essential actions. Natural climate variability can still play a role in year-to-year fluctuations, but long-term data is crucial to discern the true impacts of climate change.
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