State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Interactive Map: Daily Maximum Wet-Bulb Temperature

A new study shows that extreme, sometimes potentially fatal, mixtures of heat and humidity are emerging across the globe. The interactive world map below shows documented instances, with hotter colors from yellow to red signifying the worst combinations as measured on the Centigrade “wet bulb” scale. Read the full story: “Potentially Fatal Combinations of Humidity and Heat Are Emerging Across the Globe. (Map: Jeremy Hinsdale; adapted from Raymond et al., Science Advances, 2020; updated May, 2025)

Usage: Use trackpad or buttons to zoom, drag and drop to move; zoom in to view data points; click points to view temperature and location information.

< 17.75 20 22.25 24.5 26.75 29 31.25 33.5 >
Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

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