Feeling The Heat!

Personal exposure to heat is an environmental hazard that might not make the same headlines as hurricanes or wildfires. But the effects caused are devastating.

On average, about 658 people died each year in the US from heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.

Arizona State University (ASU) researchers are leading a big effort to gather much-needed data on more about heat exposure. The university collected sensor data over the summer of 2016 from about 55 volunteers in Phoenix, Arizona. Phoenix is known for getting very extremely hot. As the participants went about their daily life, the sensors sensed the temperature every 5 minutes. Researchers also went door to door collecting surveys.

“These datasets fill what many researchers have identified as a critical link in understanding potential vulnerabilities to heat faced by different communities around the country.”, said co-author David Hondula who is an associate professor in the School of Geographical Science at ASU.

Let’s stop global warming to make our beloved earth a better place to live.

Author: Sri Nihal Tammana

Source: University of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center

PC: Credit: David Hondula, Arizona State University