Mapping Heat Vulnerability Index Based on Different Urbanization Levels in Nebraska, USA.

ABSTRACT: Heatwaves cause excess mortality and physiological impacts on humans throughout the world, and climate change will intensify and increase the frequency of heat events. Many adaptation and mitigation studies use spatial distribution of highly vulnerable local populations to inform heat reduction and response plans. However, most available heat vulnerability studies focus on urban areas with high heat intensification by Urban Heat Islands (UHIs). Rural areas encompass different environmental and socioeconomic issues that require alternate analyses of vulnerability. We categorized Nebraska census tracts into four urbanization levels, then conducted factor analyses on each group and captured different patterns of socioeconomic vulnerabilities among resultant Heat Vulnerability Indices (HVIs).

SUBMITTER: Jalalzadeh Fard B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8533801 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature