Washington Post Highlights 'Jacuzzi-like' Waters of the Persian Gulf; Unbearable and Excruciating

The Washington Post has reported on the 'unbearable' heat and humidity of the Persian Gulf region. The report states that with global warming, the surrounding areas of the Persian Gulf are expected to become increasingly unbearable, with excruciating heat on the rise. Experts say such conditions disrupt the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature. Without the aid of air conditioning, fans, or shade, the body relies solely on its own cooling system to withstand heat, but only if the air temperature is lower than the body temperature. Research has shown that the human body loses its ability to cool itself through sweating at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius on the 'wet bulb' scale, which considers both temperature and humidity. Studies indicate that the body's cooling system becomes challenging at temperatures lower than the wet bulb temperature, closer to 31 degrees Celsius, even for young and healthy individuals. Recently, the surface temperature of the Persian Gulf waters has risen to 36.4 degrees Celsius, marking the highest level in 20 years compared to satellite data for this time of year. The Washington Post compares this temperature to that of jacuzzi waters, which typically range between 37.7 to 38.8 degrees Celsius. Research conducted in 2020 has shown that increases in 'wet bulb' temperatures to dangerously high levels occur more than twice as frequently as in 1979. Heat indices in the Persian Gulf have consistently exceeded 60 degrees Celsius in recent weeks, with no improvement at night. On Tuesday, August 8, the Iranian island of Qeshm recorded a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, and in July, the same area experienced temperatures close to 74 degrees Celsius. Assaluyeh also recorded a heat index of 63.3 degrees Celsius that day, reaching 64.4 degrees Celsius the following day and previously hitting 67.3 degrees Celsius. The Washington Post noted that the waters of the Persian Gulf have had suffocating humidity levels. Dew points, which measure humidity, have consistently reached between 32.2 to 35 degrees Celsius in surrounding areas. In the U.S., any dew point above 21.1 degrees Celsius is considered 'unpleasant humidity.'