NEW: From which areas get parks vs. industry to where cooling centers & bus shelters are placed, planning for increased extreme heat demands reckoning w/disparities in heat exposure - called a ‘silent killer’ by experts as the deadliest weather phenomena chicagotribune.com/investigations…
Our in-depth story has a paywall but searchable maps of average temperatures, demographics, cooling resources – & gaps in access to them – are readily available as part of @chicagotribune @BUSPH analysis of satellite & census data chicagotribune.com/investigations…
Latinx residents disproportionately shoulder the burden of Chicago’s heat disparities, in communities that have the hottest average surface temperatures, worse air quality & less resources to dampen the combined impact. Chart by @khemani_muskaan
The lake’s cooling effect can’t alone account for differences we found, of as much as 24 degrees. "In neighborhoods that have the highest exposure...we're going to find warehouses & other large commercial buildings, with the running trucks & heavy equipment."
“It’s the built environment,” said Illinois state climatologist Trent Ford. The good news: A ‘buffet’ of potential targeted interventions, as simple as painting roofs white to reflect the sun’s rays or adding parks can make an immediate impact.
“Too many places are choosing to take just one item out of that buffet when we should really be finding what fits best with…the appetites of all of our residents,” said climate scientist Jeremy Hoffman. Hope you'll check out our work & consider what you think the city should do
And, if you're interested in researching heat disparities where you live, we compiled a blueprint. Culling data from space can sound intimidating but it's entirely feasible to learn. chicagotribune.com/investigations…
Shoutout to fellow nerds who post documentation online that helped me learn. And biggest thanks to editor @katchicago!
Very proud to have worked w/the talented @CasanovaReports & the brilliant researchers at @BuClimateHealth whose work you can find at sites.bu.edu/climateandheal… Thanks to finishing touches from @MichelleTweetin & @carlsonjeff2014 the stories are compiled here chicagotribune.com/heat