Urban Extreme Heat Exposure Increased 200% Since 1980s

Cascade Tuholske just published research in PNAS examining global trends in extreme heat exposure across more than 13,000 urban settlements over nearly three and a half decades. The findings are striking: exposure to dangerous temperatures increased by 200% since the mid 1980s.

Cascade was initially curious how climate change could affect urban food security, especially among low-income households who spend a huge percentage of their income on food. Since extreme heat often drastically reduces labor output—and in turn, income—understanding urban heat exposure was a critical first step.

“Our study reveals that exposure to extreme heat in urban areas is much more widespread—and increasing in many more areas—than we had previously realized,” Kelly said. “Almost one in five people on Earth experienced increases in exposure to urban heat over the past 30 years.”

Population growth contributed two-thirds of the increase, with warming accounting for one-third. Cascade is now continuing this work as a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University’s Earth Institute.

Read the full story at UCSB Current →