We know that global warming is already a problem, but to what level can it affect us in the coming years? Well, NASA has revealed some data and it seems there are 5 regions or countries that will be uninhabitable by 2050.

Based on data obtained through its satellites and using a specific thermal index known as the wet bulb, NASA has estimated that some regions of the world will become uninhabitable due to global warming in the next 30 to 50 years.

Thermal Index to Assess Risk to Humans: The Wet Bulb

To assess the degree of discomfort and the risk that heat poses to our health, scientists use two main indices:

• Heat Index: Combines ambient air temperature and relative humidity in the shade.
• Wet Bulb (or wet-bulb temperature): This index measures the lowest temperature an object or body can reach as moisture evaporates from it. It is considered more accurate and less subjective than the heat index.

The wet bulb evaluates our body’s ability to cool itself through sweating in hot and humid climates. When heat and humidity reach certain levels, the body can no longer reduce its temperature, increasing the risk of death from heat.

Originally, this index was measured with a thermometer wrapped in a wet cloth exposed to the air, recording the temperature at the moment the water evaporated. Today, it is calculated using electronic equipment in weather stations, supported by satellite data.

In general, most hot and humid regions of the planet have a wet bulb index that does not exceed 25 to 27°C, which, although uncomfortable, is not particularly dangerous to our body, except during intense physical activities.

Scientists consider that a human can withstand a wet bulb index of up to 35°C for six hours; beyond that, the risk of death is very high.

Related: Why Are Cold Waves Caused by Global Warming?

Regions That Could Be Uninhabitable by 2050

NASA’s satellite data and weather stations have recorded wet bulb indices above 35°C several times in the last fifteen years, mainly in subtropical regions of Pakistan and the Persian Gulf.

Using this data and forecasting models considering global warming, NASA has identified the countries where the wet bulb index could be too high for human survival.

By 2050, it is expected that many countries in South Asia, the Persian Gulf, and those bordering the Red Sea will record wet bulb indices above 35°C, making them dangerous or uninhabitable during humid heat waves.

It is also projected that eastern China and parts of Brazil could become difficult to inhabit by 2070, as well as certain U.S. states.

In that way, the regions or the 5 countries that will be uninhabitable by 2050 are:

• Pakistan (South Asia)
• Persian Gulf (Countries located in this region)
• Red Sea (Countries with coastlines)
• Brazil
• China (Eastern Region)

Heat Is a Growing Deadly Risk

The risk of death from heat is already a reality even with wet bulb indices below 35°C. For example, the June 2021 heat wave in the northwestern United States and western Canada caused 1,400 deaths, even though the wet bulb index did not exceed 25°C.

In the last thirty years, heat has been the deadliest weather phenomenon in the United States, directly causing an average of 143 deaths per year, more than tornadoes, floods, or hurricanes.

According to the IPCC, the frequency of extreme heat episodes will quadruple by the end of the century if the temperature rises 1.5°C compared to the pre-industrial era, causing an increase in heat-related victims, not only in countries where the wet bulb regularly exceeds 35°C.

In short, knowing the regions or the 5 countries that will be uninhabitable by 2050 makes it clear that global warming and rising wet bulb indices represent a significant threat to the habitability of various world regions in the coming decades. It is crucial to take measures to mitigate these effects and protect vulnerable populations from the dangers of extreme heat.

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