Official Question UPSC 2025
The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above‐said report? I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts. II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
This question tests the broader climatic and specific physiological implications outlined in recent World Bank and IPCC climate reports regarding the Indian subcontinent.
•Statement I is Correct: The overarching report on India's climate vulnerability links the atmospheric forcing that causes extreme heat stress to a broader destabilization of the regional climate system. This trapped thermal energy exacerbates erratic monsoon patterns and warms the ocean surface, leading directly to simultaneous extremes: intensified tropical cyclones, sudden coastal flooding, and severe inland droughts, especially across the Peninsular region.
•Statement II is Correct: A 'wet-bulb' temperature measures heat combined with humidity. The biological limit for human survival is a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C. At this point, the surrounding air is so saturated with moisture that sweat can no longer evaporate. Without evaporation, the body completely loses its ability to shed heat (thermoregulation), leading to fatal heatstroke even in healthy, resting individuals.