H3AT 2020 Heat Mapping Campaign
Sprawling urban development and climate change are expected to significantly increase extreme heat in the greater Houston area in the coming years. With summer temperatures routinely reaching triple digits in Harris County, any increase in extreme heat will negatively impact quality of life and public health.
To address these issues, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) partnered with the City of Houston, Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), and The Nature Conservancy to create the Houston Harris Heat Action Team (H3AT). Working with CAPA Strategies, NOAA, the National Weather Service Houston Galveston Office, and community organizations, H3AT launched the largest one-day heat mapping campaign in the nation on Friday, August 7th, 2020. H3AT rallied 84 local citizen scientists to drive routes throughout Harris County collecting temperature and humidity data.
Heat Mapping Data
Temperature data, traditionally available either at the treetop or rooftop level, does not always accurately reflect human exposure. This project provided ground-level data to understand how the built environment influences temperatures felt across different neighborhoods. Ground-level data is important because it more accurately represents what people feel when they are working, playing or exercising outside. CAPA Strategies also applied the data collected to model morning, afternoon and evening temperatures. The data is available at www.H3AT.org.