Authors:

Elsia Rodriguez-Linares

Date Created:

Not specified

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

As global temperatures rise, the incidence of heat waves is increasing, significantly impacting human health. From 1995 to 2002, heat was the leading weather-related cause of mortality in the U.S., a trend likely to continue in the coming decades. Heat-related illnesses and mortality rises with higher temperatures and are influenced by factors such as environment, socioeconomic status, demographics, mental health, and pre- existing conditions. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, infants, lower-income communities, and people of color. Hyperthermia, heatstokes and overheating are serious heat-related illnesses that if not taken care seriously or given medical help can be fatal. Urban areas are particularly susceptible to heat due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where surfaces retain and emit heat, raising temperatures. Disadvantaged neighborhoods often experience more intense UHI effects due to historical inequalities in infrastructure and green spaces. Policies like redlining have left minority communities with fewer green spaces and greater exposure to pollutants, increasing their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses. Using ARCGIS maps to create maps of Salt lake city, the area of study, to analyze green spaces and roadways in the city that may affect UHI effects. Further analysis of which populations would be vulnerable to heat increases near highways if electrification of the roadway is to occur in an urban setting. While electric vehicles (EVs) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter, there is limited research on the potential heat generated by in-road charging technologies and its effects on local environments. Keywords: [no keywords provided]

Source:

Purdue University / 2024

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Elsia Rodriguez-Linares