Spatiotemporal Variations in Heat-Related Health Risk in Three Midwestern U.S. Cities Between 1990 and 2010

Abstract

Mortality from extreme heat is a leading cause of weather-related fatality, which is expected to increase in frequency with future climate scenarios. This study examines the spatiotemporal variations in heat-related health risk in three Midwestern cities in the United States between the years 1990 to 2010; cities include Chicago, Illinois, Indianapolis, IN, and Dayton, OH. In order to examine these variations we utilize the recently developed Extreme Heat Vulnerability Index (EHVI) that uses a principal components solution to vulnerability. The EHVI incorporates data from the U.S. Decadal Census and remotely sensed variables to determine heat-related vulnerability at an intra-urban level (census block group). The results demonstrate significant spatiotemporal variations in heat-health risk within the cities involved.