Author: Jade Kuan
Jade Kuan completed ITGH's summer program in "Health, Technology, & Society," in collaboration with the Data-Smart City Solutions Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. She is a student at Wellesley College double majoring in Chemistry and Peace & Justice Studies. Her research focuses on health outcomes of extreme heat and how cities can use data to inform heat work.
As climate change intensifies, cities are increasingly confronted with the public health challenges posed by extreme heat. In most areas of the United States, extreme heat is defined as a period of two days or more with high heat and humidity with temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are significant health impacts that accompany heat waves and consistent high heat days, particularly for sensitive populations. To address these challenges, it's essential to understand health outcomes and associated data points to inform policy development. For example, using geographic information system (GIS) data and hospital data to identify hot spots within a city that need additional cooling centers.
This article explores useful metrics for understanding and quantifying health impacts from heat as well as case studies from cities across the United States. By identifying crucial data points and understanding the health outcomes that each can reveal, cities can craft targeted interventions to improve health outcomes. To summarize these metrics, a comprehensive guide organized by type and review frequency is provided.
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