July 6, 2021
Phoenix heat was the topic of discussion in the latest episode of PBS' 'Weathered', a show that helps explain the most common natural disasters, what causes them, how they’re changing, and what we can do to prepare. This episode features ASU researchers and HUE affiliates Mikhail Chester, Ariane Middel and David Hondula.
"Perhaps no place in the United States more clearly illustrates the dangers of global warming than Phoenix, Arizona. 2020 was their hottest year on record, with 53 days reaching at least 110 degrees F. And heat-related deaths there have more than doubled over the last 5 years. But while these trends are truly disturbing, there is hope. Because of its extreme circumstances, Phoenix has been forced to explore innovative solutions and is learning how to adapt urban life to hotter and hotter temperatures.
In this episode of Weathered, we delve into the latest science of the “urban heat island” effect, learn about the looming threat of a potential “Katina-like event” that threatens their electrical grid, and explore the gamut of options being pursued by scientists and activists to make life safer and more livable in America’s hottest city."