Official UPSC Format

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.

1. I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.

2. II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.

⚡ Quick Recall Snippet

The World Bank warns India faces lethal wet-bulb temperatures exceeding 35°C. At this threshold, the atmosphere is too hot and humid for human sweat to evaporate, preventing natural thermal regulation and leading to fatal heat strokes.

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Detailed Solution & Authority Citations

Correct Answer is Option 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.

    • 🚨 The Examiner's Trap

    Candidates might focus only on the physiological aspect (Statement II) and dismiss Statement I, assuming heat waves don't correlate with floods. However, extreme warming fundamentally destabilizes the monsoon and ocean temperatures, fueling erratic cyclones and intense regional droughts/floods concurrently.

    Active Recall Flashcard

    Tap to Flip

    Why is a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C considered the theoretical limit of human survival?

    At this threshold, the air is too humid for sweat to evaporate, making it biologically impossible for the body to cool itself down.

    Concept Flow Mapping

    Wet-Bulb Temperature (35°C)
    Prevents
    Sweat Evaporation
    Sweat Evaporation
    Is Required For
    Shedding Body Heat
    High Wet-Bulb Temps
    Correlate With
    Extreme Weather Events

    Logic Quest

    "Why is 'wet-bulb' temperature more dangerous than standard (dry-bulb) temperature?"

    Not analyzing core concepts like Physiological Limits to Climate Change Adaptation through the lens of Previous Year Questions is a serious miss-out. This PYQ engine is specifically designed to help you decode the examiner's mindset and master highly probable Environment & Ecology questions for your upcoming Prelims.