Just half a degree rise of global warming will triple the size of the area of Earth that is considered to be too hot for humans. The new area will be equivalent to the size of the U.S., according to new research released on Tuesday. Researchers say that warming would come with dangerous repercussions for the people that live in the zone.

As the planet warms, more of Earth’s surface is edging toward temperatures that even the healthiest humans cannot endure. A new study, led by scientists at King’s College London, warns that a mere half-degree increase in global warming could triple the area of land where extreme heat becomes unsurvivable.

An international group of scientists, led by King's College London, has revealed how continued global warming will lead to more parts of the planet becoming too hot for the human body over the coming decades.