(10 degrees Celsius) cooler during the muggy August heat wave, the heat stress to human health was more intense than the September event. That’s because the wet-bulb temperature – which relates heat to how well our bodies cool down by sweating – surged due to the humidity.

The results underscore the importance of including humid heat when issuing extreme heat warnings, the scientists said.

Local Impacts

Another key finding of the study was that heat waves don’t touch every place the same way. “The same heat wave can feel different because of local climate variabilities and disparities in vegetation, which has a shading and cooling effect. These small-scale variabilities make a big difference in impact,” said Shreevastava, who studies extreme heat and its effect on urban and natural ecosystems.

Shreevastava and her team examined three regions that experienced the 2020 heat waves differently: Southern L.A. County and Orange County stayed cooler, given their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and coastal moisture. Valley regions, including San Fernando and Riverside, skewed drier and hotter. And central L.A. fell between the two extremes.

Despite the microclimate variations, humidity had a leveling effect: Both the coastal and inland areas experienced increased nighttime heat stress during the muggy August heat wave. This was a notable change for the valley regions, which historically have countered scorching daytime temperatures with drier nights. Valley areas such as those in San Bernardino and Riverside counties experienced the greatest change over recent historical averages, with up to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius) of added heat stress during humid heat wave nights.

The researchers said that their findings highlight how disparities in small-scale heat wave patterns across urban neighborhoods are vitally important when designing emergency plans and policies for our shared, hotter future.

News Media Contacts

Jane J. Lee / Andrew Wang
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874
jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov



Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

RT @UNDP: Today we mark the 30th anniversary of @GEF_SGP at #GEFassembly2023 by celebrating the key role of #IndigenousPeoples & local communities in protecting the 🌎

Checkout the anthem “We Live As One” by Multi-Grammy Award Winner & @UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador @rickykej on #LocalAction.

UNDP Climate

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

RT @Connect4Climate: New vid: Watch @WorldBank energy expert Demetrios Papathanasiou tackle vital questions on fossil fuels + climate education from young Mirriam 💚 @SaveChildrenZM is doing vital work empowering kids like Mirriam to dream big and change the world for the better 👧🏾 @SavetheChildren

World Bank Climate

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

RT @AidinNiamir: With a delegation of 12 scientists, @senckenberg 🦕participates in #IPBES10

Senckenberg has been actively involved in the work of @IPBES, contributing to all assessment reports, hosting several authors' meetings, & is the home to the technical support unit for knowledge and data

ipbes

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Tropical Storm Franklin continues to gather itself in the Caribbean Sea while Post-Tropical Storm Gert falls apart to the east of the Lesser Antilles.

CIRA

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Governments spend 6x their #ParisAgreement commitments on fossil fuel subsidies. What if these funds were used for renewable energy instead?

➡️ Learn more in this @WorldBank report: wrld.bg/1o4q50PB8Ue #DetoxDev

World Bank Climate

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

In today's warming climate, how can people prepare for the danger of wildfires?

In New Caledonia, communities have been taking things into their own hands to try to slow down fires by planting trees that can act as green fire breaks.

Via @ABCPacific abc.net.au/pacific/programs/…

Conservation Intl

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

RT @NASAJPL: #MissionToPsyche will be humanity’s first-ever exploration of a world made largely of metal. Flight systems engineer Christina Hernandez has made sure Psyche is ready to fly.

NASA Technology

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

RT @NWSWPC: 🌀 Tropical Storm Harold is forecast to continue to bring heavy rainfall to parts of Texas and northern Mexico through early Wednesday. Scattered instances of flash flooding will be possible.

⚠️ Remain weather aware, and follow the advice of local officials.

NOAA

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Tropical Storm #Franklin Advisory 8A: Noaa Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Investigating Franklin. hurricanes.gov

National Hurricane Center

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Tropical Storm #Harold Advisory 5A: Core of Harold Inland Over South Texas. Heavy Rains and Tropical Storm Force Winds Continue Across the Area. hurricanes.gov

National Hurricane Center

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

An Advected Layer Precipitable Water (ALPW) perspective of Tropical Storm Harold as it made landfall in South Texas earlier today. The product is derived from multiple polar-orbiting satellites.

CIRA

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Are you at the #GEFAssembly2023?

Join today's event 'Food Systems Transformation Pathways' highlighting diverse #foodsystems transformation pathways to achieve a shared goal: a healthy planet & healthy people. ow.ly/2cCs50PBXzw @FAONorthAmerica

FAO Climate Change & Biodiversity

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

“Yasuní gives life to our world, and Ecuadorian society has finally woken up to this”
ICYMI - Ecuadorians said NO to oil drilling in an Amazon protected area, home to isolated Indigenous communities & delicate rainforest ecosystem. grist.org/international/60-o…

Greenpeace International

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

Today and every day, let's recognize the essential contributions of bees and other pollinators, including:

🍎 Increasing #biodiversity
🌱 Maintaining ecosystems
🐝 And more!

Via @FAO #SavetheBees

UN Biodiversity

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme

#HappeningToday at the #GEFAssembly2023

🌱🌿 The @UNBiodiversity pavilion will host a panel on how operational Mainstreaming through Multilateral Development Banks and International Finance Institutions can support the implementation of the #KMGBF!

➡️cbd.int/article/GBF-Pavilion…

UN Biodiversity

Climate Change Science on Telegram by @ClimateChangeScience
A @grttme project - Other backups: @Hallotme