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.
A.I only
B.II only✓ Correct
C.Both I and II
D.Neither I nor II
Explanation
Wet-bulb temperature is a measure combining heat and humidity; at 35 °C wet-bulb, the human body cannot cool itself by sweating because perspiration cannot evaporate, making it lethal even for healthy individuals in shade. Statement II directly addresses this physiological implication. Statement I (flooding, cyclones, droughts) refers to broader climate change impacts but is not the specific implication of the wet-bulb temperature threshold mentioned in the World Bank report, which focuses on heat stress and human survivability rather than hydrological extremes.
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