Climate change: Hispanics more exposed to 'killer heat' in US

For years, temperatures around the world have been increasing. However, historically no county in the US experienced a heat index equal to or greater than 100°F (37.7°C) for more than 100 days a year.

Nearly a third of the US counties (1,060 of 3,109) barely had one day a year with a heat index of 100°F or higher.

Without global action to reduce harmful emissions, only 199 counties in the US would experience a heat index of less than 100°F throughout the year or reach that temperature for a maximum of one day, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Up to 106 counties in the country would register a heat index of at least 100°F for more than 100 days a year for the first time.

Of these, 24 counties - one in four - have a majority of the Hispanic population (en los estados de California, Texas, Arizona y Florida).

If this continues, 22% of the US population,residing in 659 counties, would have a heat index of 100°F or more during 100 days of the year. 30% of the Hispanic population in the US lives in them.

In 2070, in only 51 counties in the US the heat index will be held below 100°F almost all year round.

The new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists is based on the heat index to make projections about the impact of global warming nationwide. This indicator shows the heat “sensation” from the combination of temperature and humidity in the environment. Thus, if the thermostat is 96°F and the relative humidity is 65%, the thermal sensation would be higher, approx. 121°F.

This is important because moisture limits the body's ability to cool. Sweat helps us to lower temperature by evaporation, but humidity hinders the process, which can dangerously elevate the body temperatureand trigger diseases associated with heat, or even death.

An analysis of data provided by the Union of Concerned Scientists by Univision News found that 17% of Latinos in the USA will suffer heat waves (of 100°F or more) during at least 100 days between 2036 and 2065. That incidence rate is 6% higher than the rest of the non-Hispanic population.

By late century, the incidence rate for Hispanics rises to 22% for 'killer' heat (105˚F or above) compared to 10% for non-Hispanics. The Union of Concerned Scientists emphasizes that the actions taken in the coming years will determine how hot we will be in the future.

“We need to mobilize now to avoid the worst consequences of climate change," Juan Declet-Barreto, one of the authors of the report, said in an interview with Univision. "We can significantly reduce the number of days of killer heat (105°F or above) if we take drastic action now."

https://static.univision.com/especiales/noticias/infografias/2019/killer-heat-interactive/index.html