Key Takeaways
- NASA’s collaboration with Prince George’s County aims to leverage satellite data to address summer heat challenges.
- Data from the Landsat 8 and Aqua satellites will assist in identifying heat risks linked to land use changes.
- A NASA guide will help other communities replicate this study to improve public health and safety during extreme heat.
NASA and Prince George’s County Combat Summer Heat
Excessive summer heat and humidity pose significant health risks to many Americans, leading to heat-related illnesses. To mitigate these dangers, a collaboration between NASA scientists and officials in Prince George’s County, Maryland, has been established. This partnership focuses on utilizing data from NASA satellites to aid local governments in addressing the perils associated with extreme temperatures.
The study, published in Frontiers in Environmental Science, employs data from the Landsat 8 satellite, which is operated in conjunction with the US Geological Survey, and NASA’s Aqua satellite. This information reveals surface temperature trends in the county over recent decades and indicates how temperature variations correlate with land use changes, such as construction and removal of green spaces. These insights are vital for county planners and environmental advisors as they develop strategies to combat heat risks in the future. Notably, the collaboration aims to help first responders prepare for heat-related emergencies.
Stephanie Schollaert Uz, an applications scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, highlighted that this initiative represents a significant shift in applying satellite data to local challenges. By providing user-friendly guides at the conclusion of the study, NASA is encouraging communities beyond its own to utilize these valuable resources.
The long-term goal is to track how land use impacts public health, particularly in terms of urban heat islands—localized areas where temperatures significantly exceed those in surrounding regions. Factors like loss of tree cover and development of impermeable surfaces contribute to these heat islands, leading to not only direct health hazards but also increased local severe weather patterns.
Mary Abe from Prince George’s County’s sustainability division noted that intense heat can result in more microbursts—localized strong winds accompanied by heavy rain. She explains that hotter spots can supercharge the atmosphere, causing severe weather.
Moving forward, county officials plan to depend on NASA’s satellite data to identify the most vulnerable populations and predict how future development may amplify heat-related risks. Strategies under consideration include tree preservation, new tree planting, and replacing non-permeable materials with those that allow rainfall to seep into the ground. To enhance the accuracy of satellite data for their planning efforts, county experts may enlist local residents to collect weather and temperature data, potentially engaging them as citizen scientists.
Furthermore, the temperature data from NASA could inform strategies to manage insect-borne diseases, according to Evelyn Hoban, associate director for the Prince George’s County division of environmental health. By identifying areas with higher temperatures, the county can pinpoint mosquito and tick breeding grounds, guiding outreach and prevention efforts where they are most needed.
For other communities interested in mirroring this successful initiative, NASA has created a guide detailing how to access and analyze satellite and ground-based weather data. The guide, paired with a tutorial based on the Prince George’s County study, offers a roadmap for implementing similar strategies in various locations.
This collaboration not only enhances the credibility of county-led health and safety initiatives but also reinforces the science-based approach to decision-making. Abe noted that the partnership with NASA adds value and trust to the county’s efforts to safeguard its residents’ well-being.
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