Urbanization and human-caused climate changes have led to increases in heat events around the world. For example, in July 2012, an extreme heat wave hit the Chicago area, causing temperatures to skyrocket to 40°C (104°F) and above. Chicago, like most cities, is affected by urban heat islands (UHIs), which occur when changes in land cover create spaces that are warmer than their surrounding area. Satellite measurements can be used to inform models to characterize the intensity of UHIs, yet satellite techniques have some limitations—expensive sensors and low temporal resolution, among other drawbacks. But quantifying the intensity of UHIs could help public health officials and city planners learn to mitigate the impacts of future heat waves.
heat waves
Posted inENGAGE, News
Neighborhoods Are Feeling the Heat of Climate Change
It’s no secret there are disparities in exposure to climate change’s effects. A new study zeroes in on the demographics of neighborhoods subjected to the hottest temperatures.
Posted inNews
Specifically Tailored Action Plans Combat Heat Waves in India
The frequencies of heat waves and heat-induced mortality have soared in India. Now government agencies and research organizations are developing city-specific action plans to mitigate heat impacts.
Posted inNews
The First Undeniable Climate Change Deaths
In 2018 in Japan, more than 1,000 people died during an unprecedented heat wave. In 2019, scientists proved it would have been impossible without global warming.
Posted inNews
Another Scorcher: 2019 Was the Second-Hottest Year on Record
Heat waves, massive melts, and droughts, oh my. The past decade was our hottest yet.
Posted inNews
Heat Waves Born of Earth and Sky
Researchers use computer simulations to uncover the significant contributions that dry soil and atmospheric wind patterns make to major heat waves.
Posted inNews
Heat Waves Are Blowing in the Wind
New research indicates that droughts in far-off places contribute to the amount of heat transported to regions experiencing heat waves.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Unraveling the Origins of a Record-Setting Marine Heat Wave
The extreme heat wave in the southwestern Atlantic in 2017 was likely caused by upper atmosphere circulation patterns triggered by the Madden-Julian Oscillation tropical weather cycle.
Posted inNews
Heat Waves, More Than Coral Death, May Cause Fish to Flee Reefs
A study over a broad swath of the Great Barrier Reef shows that warming waters directly cause fish and invertebrates to leave the reef, making it harder for coral to recover from bleaching events.
Posted inAGU News
AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange Links Science with Small Towns
Scientists and students collaborate with communities to create a greener municipal building in Midway, Ga., and assess residents' vulnerability to warming climate in Brookline, Mass.