Wet-Bulb-0.mp3
Wet-Bulb-0.mp4
Wet-Bulb-I.mp3
Wet-Bulb-I.mp4
Wet-Bulb-intro.mp3
[Intro]
Wet-bulb
(Making my head throb)
Too hot
(Shaking what I’ve got)
[Verse 1]
Standard deviations
Above historical norms
No rationalization
Makes one wiggle and squirm
[Chorus]
Wet-bulb
(Making my head throb)
Too hot
(Shaking what I’ve got)
[Bridge]
Air’s getting too wet
(For my body to sweat)
Getting hard to stay alive
(Getting hard to survive)
[Verse 2]
Regions most at risk
South is losing wealth
Pace way too brisk
The coast is toast
[Chorus]
Wet-bulb
(Making my head throb)
Too hot
(Shaking what I’ve got)
[Bridge]
Air’s getting too wet
(For my body to sweat)
Getting hard to stay alive
(Getting hard to survive)
[Chorus]
Wet-bulb
(Making my head throb)
Too hot
(Shaking what I’ve got)
[Outro]
Lost the fight to thrive
(Can we even survive?)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Climate-related statistics that have surpassed 2 to 3 standard deviations from historical baselines, based on recent scientific data and insurance modeling. These deviations suggest we’re now operating outside the bounds of historical climate stability, with profound implications for ecosystems, economies, and public safety:
1. Global Average Temperature Anomalies
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Recent records: July 2023 and July 2024 were the hottest months on record, with global mean temperatures more than 3 standard deviations above the 20th-century baseline.
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NASA & NOAA data: The likelihood of seeing such extremes under “normal” pre-industrial variability is less than 0.3% per year — they are statistical outliers.
2. North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs)
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In 2023 and 2024, North Atlantic SSTs were up to 5 standard deviations above the 1982–2011 climatology during some summer months.
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These anomalies contributed to hyperactive hurricane seasons and marine heatwaves, affecting fisheries and coral ecosystems.
3. Antarctic Sea Ice Extent
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Antarctic sea ice extent in 2023 hit record lows, dipping over 5 standard deviations below the 1981–2010 average.
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The chance of this being a random fluctuation is virtually nil — suggesting fundamental changes in Southern Hemisphere climate dynamics.
4. Hurricane Intensity and Rainfall
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Hurricanes are now delivering 24% more rain on average than storms from the mid-20th century, with precipitation intensity in some cases 2–3 standard deviations above baseline.
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The 2020 hurricane season had 30 named storms — double the long-term average, a deviation well outside normal bounds.
5. Extreme Weather Frequency
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The number of billion-dollar weather disasters in the U.S. has increased dramatically:
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2023 alone had 28 events, compared to a historical average of ~8/year — well over 2 standard deviations above normal.
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Heatwaves, floods, and wildfires are now occurring with a frequency and intensity that models once treated as 1-in-100 or 1-in-500 year events.
6. Ocean Heat Content (OHC)
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Ocean heat content — a key driver of long-term climate change — is rising far beyond historical norms, with the top 2,000 meters of the ocean registering record-breaking heat 6 years in a row (2018–2023).
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OHC is over 3 SDs above 1981–2010 average in some ocean basins.
7. Wildfire Burn Area (Canada, U.S., Australia)
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In 2023, Canada alone burned 18 million hectares — nearly 8 standard deviations above its 40-year average.
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The scale and frequency of megafires in western U.S. states and Australia have become statistical outliers in fire models.
8. Wet-Bulb Temperature Events
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Regions like the Persian Gulf, South Asia, and parts of the U.S. are beginning to experience wet-bulb temperatures > 31°C, a 2–3 standard deviation shift from past extremes.
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These events threaten human survivability and are pushing the limits of physiological heat tolerance.
The US
Wet-bulb temperatures above 31°C (87.8°F) are extremely dangerous — at these levels, the human body cannot cool itself through sweating, even in the shade, leading to potentially fatal heat stress within hours. While these thresholds have historically been rare outside the tropics, parts of the U.S. are now beginning to approach or breach this limit during extreme heat events — something that used to be considered virtually impossible in the U.S. climate.
Here are the U.S. regions most at risk and already showing wet-bulb temperatures exceeding 31°C or very close — often 2–3 standard deviations above historical norms:
1. South Texas & Gulf Coast (Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Houston)
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Already observed wet-bulb temperatures > 31°C, especially during heatwaves with high humidity and stagnant air.
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This region is closest in climate to subtropical zones, with high Gulf moisture and intense solar heating.
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Notable Event: July 2023 saw Brownsville record a wet-bulb of 31.2°C, nearing human survivability thresholds.
2. Louisiana, Mississippi & Coastal Alabama
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High humidity from the Gulf + high temps create perfect storm conditions for wet-bulb extremes.
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New Orleans and Baton Rouge have clocked wet-bulb temps around 30.5°C to 31.0°C in recent summers.
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Trend: Average summer humidity and nighttime minimum temps have increased significantly since the 1980s.
3. Florida (Miami, Tampa, Fort Myers, and inland Everglades)
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Very high baseline humidity and increasing urban heat island effects are pushing wet-bulb temps near critical thresholds.
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Miami-Dade’s urban core can hit 30.5°C wet-bulb, with some inland areas (Everglades edge) hitting 31°C under stagnant conditions.
4. Mississippi River Valley & Midwest (in isolated events)
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While not traditionally at risk, heat dome events have caused spikes in wet-bulb readings in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.
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Wet-bulbs of 29.5°C–30.5°C were observed during July 2023 under extreme dew points (~80°F) and triple-digit heat.
5. Southwest Deserts (Phoenix, Las Vegas, Death Valley) — Dry Heat, but Changing
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Typically hot but dry, these regions have avoided extreme wet-bulb temps historically.
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However, monsoonal moisture and climate shifts are making 30°C+ wet-bulb temps more common — especially during nighttime heatwaves when humidity is trapped.
Implications
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These conditions represent a major public health risk, especially for:
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Outdoor workers
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Elderly or chronically ill individuals
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Households without air conditioning
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Military bases, prisons, and low-income housing in these regions are at acute risk during these events.
