Missouri LSEN to host roundtable discussion about urban heat islands
Buildings, roads and other structures in urbanized areas absorb and re-emit heat from the sun much more than organic landscapes, such as forests and plains. As a result, cities often record much warmer temperatures than surrounding areas, which is referred to as the urban heat island effect. Trees and other natural landscapes can cool down neighborhoods and industrialized areas that experience the urban heat island effect.
Urban heat islands are on average 1 to 7 degrees warmer during the day. These areas also experience an increase of 2 to 5 degrees at night. Urban heat islands disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, low-income communities and people of color.
Missouri does not have a statewide climate action plan to address the harmful impacts of heat islands and other climate change-induced dangers. However, several regions and cities have developed local climate action and adaptation plans. Read the latest news from the Environmental Protection Agency about heat islands and resources available here.
How does urban heat impact communities?
Human activities, such as an increase in vehicle traffic or air conditioning use, can increase heat emissions that exacerbate the urban heat island effect. This can create a negative feedback loop, where people in cities increase their air conditioning use (and subsequently AC-related heat emissions) to combat the temperature rise. Urban heat islands can also intensify naturally occurring heat waves.
Heat islands have a variety of health, environmental and economic impacts. Sensitive populations are particularly at risk during these events.
- Older adults are more likely to be in poor health as well as being less mobile and more isolated than other members of the community. This group is also more likely to be sensitive to high levels of heat and live on reduced incomes.
- Young children tend to be more at risk for health complications during extreme heat due to their small size and developing bodies. Many are spending more time outside which can raise their chances of asthma and other lung diseases caused by increased air pollution, which usually increases during heat waves.
- People who work outdoors are more likely to have conditions such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. They are also exposed to ozone air pollution and heat stress, especially in jobs requiring manual labor.
- Populations with low income are at a risk for heat-related illnesses due to inadequate housing or inadequate resources to find shelter with air conditioning during a heatwave.
- People with certain disabilities such as chronic conditions, diabetes and cognitive conditions are especially at risk during heat waves and are vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
Engage with our expert panelists during the Missouri LSEN’s October roundtable
This month, the Missouri Local Science Engagement Network (LSEN) is hosting a virtual roundtable discussion on October 13 at 3 p.m CT to discuss urban heat islands and how their effects are made worse by climate change. This event will be our ninth roundtable discussion of 2021. Click here to learn more about urban heat islands in Missouri and to register for the event.
Joining Missouri LSEN for the panel will be Dr. Fengpeng Sun, a climate scientist at the University of Missouri — Kansas City. Sun is currently leading a project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to measure how heat is distributed throughout Kansas City. When the project is completed, the team will create a map of the area to inform community members and help policymakers take action to offset urban heat.
“You know, we talk about climate change — it’s not only happening in the Arctic,” Sun said. “In our backyard, in the neighborhood, climate change is happening, so we have more and more heat wave events.”
Brendan Shane is the climate director at The Trust for Public Land and will be providing a national perspective about urban heat mapping and strategies to reduce high temperatures in urban areas. The Trust for Public Land’s climate program works with communities of all sizes across the country to attend to climate change’s dangerous impacts. Shane will highlight the heat data found in ParkServe, a database of local parks in over 10,000 communities, as well as provide insight into analyzing heat in communities and at schools.
Doug Kluck from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will also be joining the discussion as an expert panelist. Kluck is the Climate Service Director for the Central Region. Through this position, Kluck specializes in climate adaptation, mitigation and prediction for the area.
