Extreme global temperatures are pushing the human body “close to thermal limits”, according to a climate scientist.
一名天气科学家暗示，全球极端气温正将人体推向“高温极限”。
Record-breaking heat has swept through Europe this week with temperatures topping 40C in a number of countries.
本周，破记载的高温囊括欧洲，一些国度的气温跨越40摄氏度。
However, in places such as South Asia and the Persian Gulf, people are already enduring temperatures reaching up to 54C.
但是，在南亚和波斯湾等地，人们忍耐的高温已达54摄氏度。
Despite all the body's thermal efficiencies, these areas could soon be uninhabitable, according to Loughborough University climate scientist Dr Tom Matthews in The Conversation.
拉夫堡年夜学天气科学家汤姆·马修斯博士在The Conversation网站上说，虽然人体的热效力很高，但这些区域可能很快就不宜栖身了。
When air temperature exceeds 35C, the body relies on sweating to keep core temperatures at a safe level. However, when the “wet bulb” temperature – which reflects the ability of moisture to evaporate – reaches 35C, this system no longer works.
当气温跨越35摄氏度时，身体依托流汗来将焦点温度连结在平安程度。但是，当反应水份蒸发能力的“湿球温度”到达35摄氏度时，该性能就不复兴感化了。
“The wet bulb temperature includes the cooling effect of water evaporating from the thermometer, and so is normally much lower than the normal (“dry bulb”) temperature reported in weather forecasts,” Dr Matthews wrote.
马修斯博士写道：“湿球温度包罗温度计的水份蒸发冷却结果，是以凡是比气候预告中的正常（干球）温度低很多。”
“Once this wet bulb temperature threshold is crossed, the air is so full of water vapour that sweat no longer evaporates,” he said.
他说：“一旦湿球温度跨越阈值，空气中就布满了水蒸气，汗水就不再蒸发了。”
This means the human body cannot cool itself enough to survive more than a few hours.
这意味着人体不克不及自我降温，这类环境延续几个小时就可以危及生命。
“Without the means to dissipate heat, our core temperature rises, irrespective of how much water we drink, how much shade we seek, or how much rest we take,” he explained.
他诠释说：“若是没有散热的方式，人体的焦点温度就会上升，不管我们喝了几多水，在阴凉处所呆了多久，或歇息了多长时候。”
Some areas – which are among the most densely populated on Earth – could pass this threshold by the end of the century, according to Dr Matthews.
马修斯博士说，地球上生齿最密集的一些地域的湿球温度可能会在本世纪末冲破这一阈值。
With climate change starting to profoundly alter weather systems, rising temperatures could soon make parts of the world uninhabitable.
跟着天气转变起头深度改变气候系统，不竭上升的气温可能很快使部门地域不宜栖身。
If electricity can be maintained, living in chronically heat-stressed conditions may be possible but a power outage could be catastrophic.
若是能保持电力供给，持久糊口在高热状态下是可能的，但停电可能造成灾害性后果。
In a recent paper published in?Nature Climate Change, Dr Matthews and his team looked at the probability of a “grey swan” event in the case of extreme heat coinciding with massive blackouts.
在比来颁发在《天然天气转变》杂志上的一篇文章中，马修斯博士和他的团队研究了极端高暖和年夜规模停电同时产生的“灰天鹅”事务的可能性。
Mega blackouts sometimes follow powerful tropical cyclones. Researchers found that dangerously hot temperatures during a period with no electricity could have catastrophic consequences.
强热带气旋事后，有时会呈现年夜规模停电。研究职员发现，在停电时，危险的高温会带来灾害性的后果。
“We looked at tropical cyclones, which have already caused the biggest blackouts on Earth, with the months-long power failure in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria among the most serious,” Dr Matthews wrote.
马修斯博士写道：“我们研究了热带气旋，它们已造成了地球上规模最年夜的停电，此中，飓风玛丽亚事后波多黎各延续数月的停电属于最为严重之列。”
“We found that as the climate warms, it becomes ever more likely that these powerful cyclones would be followed by dangerous heat, and that such compound hazards would be expected every year if global warming reaches 4C.
“我们发现，跟着天气变热，这些壮大的气旋以后更有可能呈现危险的高温，若是全球升温到达4摄氏度，估计每一年城市呈现这两种相伴而来的危险。”
“During the emergency response to a tropical cyclone, keeping people cool would have to be as much a priority as providing clean drinking water.”
“在应对热带气旋的告急应对办法中，让人们连结风凉应当与供给洁净饮用水一样成为当务之急。”
Heat-stressed countries are likely to see the largest absolute increases in humid-heat and they are often the least well-prepared to deal with the hazard. This could drive mass migration, which would make heat a worldwide issue – even for countries that are not experiencing scorching temperatures.
高温国度极可能呈现最严重的湿热尽对值增添，而这些国度应对这类危险常常筹办最不充实。这可能会致使年夜范围的生齿迁徙，并将使高温成为全球性题目，即便对那些没有履历高温的国度也是如斯。
Dr Matthews wrote: “The challenges ahead are stark. Adaptation has its limits. We must therefore maintain our global perspective on heat and pursue a global response, slashing greenhouse gas emissions to keep to the Paris warming limits.
马修斯博士写道：“将来的挑战是严重的。顺应有其局限性。是以，我们必需连结对高温的全球视角，并采纳全球应对办法，削减温室气体排放，遵照《巴黎协议》的全球变热上限。”
“In this way, we have the greatest chance of averting deadly heat – home and abroad.”
“如许，我们才会有最年夜可能在全球规模内避免致命的高温。”