Recording Individually Experienced Heat Stress During an NYC Heatwave: What Our Weather Forecasts Cannot Quantify

Keywords: heat waves, environmental justice, individually experienced temperature, community vulnerability
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Cities are increasingly experiencing more frequent and intense heat waves. Extreme heat events can cause heat stress, impact physical and mental wellbeing and exacerbate existing health conditions. Vulnerability to heat stress varies within cities due to differences in indoor and outdoor heat exposure and access to cooling resources, such as green space and home air conditioning (AC). While temperatures are typically monitored and recorded for a city or neighborhood, there is little documentation on the variability of temperatures on an individual scale–both outdoors and within homes. For this study, we asked: how do individuals experience heatwaves and what factors influence variability in experience. In collaboration with WE ACT for Environmental Justice, we captured indoor, outdoor, and individually experienced temperatures during a six-day heat wave in July 2022 with low cost hygrometers continuously recording temperature and relative humidity of 10 residents of Northern Manhattan, New York City—an area with a high heat vulnerability index rating. To measure perceived heat stress, we administered a daily survey to collect qualitative measures on their physical and mental wellbeing. Participants’ maximum indoor temperatures ranged from 76℉ to 93℉, while participants’ individually experienced maximum temperatures ranged from 76℉ to 110℉. Perceptions of the heat and its impact on their mood also varied greatly amongst the group. For example, a participant without home AC reported higher levels of heat stress than most participants. Documenting this granularity of individually experienced heat stress is critical for developing more effective policies that protect the most vulnerable populations against extreme heat.