look news india
These days, two major parts of the world are in the grip of extreme heat. On one hand the temperature in Europe has reached 43 degrees Celsius, while on the other hand the temperature in China is touching the magical and dangerous figure of 50 degrees. There has been a big debate on social media – what is the reason that in one place people are melting like wax, while in another place the situation is slightly different despite the temperature being high? In the language of science, the answer lies not only in the temperature, but in the ‘heat index’ and the geographical location there.
Humidity is the real villain
The biggest difference between the heat in Europe and the heat in China is ‘humidity’. Due to high level of humidity in the air in Europe, the ‘feel-like’ temperature there becomes very high. When the temperature is 43 degrees and the humidity in the air is high, the sweat of the body is not able to dry, due to which the cooling process of the body comes to a halt. This is the reason why people are in more distress there. In contrast, summer in many parts of China is ‘dry heat’. Despite the temperature being 50 degrees, sweat evaporates rapidly due to low humidity in the air, due to which the body feels some relief.
Geographical conditions and effect of concrete
Most cities in Europe are centuries old, built of stone and materials that absorb heat and release it late at night, creating what is called the ‘urban heat island’ effect. There is less use of AC in the houses there, due to which the temperature inside is felt higher than outside. Whereas in the modern cities of China, heat management is slightly better due to high-rise concrete structures and modern cooling systems. Additionally, Europe’s climate is accustomed to cold weather, making both vegetation and human bodies unprepared for this sudden ‘heat wave’, turning it into a disaster.
What does science say?
According to scientists, it is necessary for our sweat to evaporate to keep the body cool. If the humidity in the environment is above 60%, then even 40 degree temperature can prove fatal. In Europe, ‘humid heat’ has hit people harder physically, while in China, ‘extreme temperatures’ are testing infrastructure. This is the new face of global warming, where what kind of climate zone you are living in matters more than the number of temperatures. With rising temperatures, we now need to seriously understand not just the degrees, but the ‘heat index’, because these heat waves can become even more deadly in the future.