The data collected will identify Houston’s most high-risk heat areas and guide heat mitigation solutions to communities that need it most
Houston, Texas – On Saturday, August 10, 2024, over 100 community volunteer scientists took to the streets to find the areas in Houston and Harris County most susceptible to the “urban heat island effect.” Using thermal sensors mounted on their cars, these volunteers traveled along pre-determined routes to record ambient temperatures and humidity at three specific times: 6 – 7 a.m., 3 – 4 p.m., and 7 – 8 p.m. Together, they drove a total of 3,664 miles across Houston and Harris County over all these time periods, making it the largest heat mapping campaign ever in the state of Texas and the United States. This community science endeavor was led by the Houston Harris Heat Action Team (H3AT), a collaboration between Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), the City of Houston, Harris County Office of County Administration, Harris County Precinct 4, Harris County Public Health, Student Conservation Association, and the National Weather Service.
Urban and extreme heat are among the most significant health and climate issues facing Houston and Harris County. Higher temperatures can lead to heat stress, heat stroke, and higher ozone levels. Extreme heat also threatens wildlife and has a profound effect on vulnerable communities with limited A/C and significant homeless populations. It has been documented that low-income households and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat through higher cooling costs, fewer neighborhood trees, and more impervious cover (buildings). According to scientific data, it’s only expected to get worse.
To help mitigate these impacts, we need to first know where hotspots exist. The H3AT Team collaborated in 2020 to measure and map urban heat, resulting in the largest single-day community science mapping campaign in Houston’s history. They joined forces again this year, expanding the coverage area with a particular focus on Houston’s disadvantaged communities.
“We know that extreme heat makes low-income, fenceline, and underserved communities more vulnerable as they often lack green spaces or access to affordable cooling,” said HARC’s Research Associate in Climate and Equity, and H3AT Project Manager, Dr. Stephanie Piper. “The 2020 campaign provided a solid foundation toward our understanding of Houston’s urban hotspots. This year’s campaign extended the mapped areas to include an area where around two million people live; most of whom are considered to be disadvantaged. This campaign will identify Houston’s most high-risk heat neighborhoods and allow us to implement solutions, like tree plantings, which will reduce heat’s impact on these communities.”
The 2024 campaign covered 69 areas (compared to 32 in the 2020 campaign) in Houston and Harris County. It will help produce street-by-street heat data via maps that identify where, on a granular level, heat is most severe. This data will then be incorporated into a tree equity analysis to develop a scientific basis to guide tree plantings, prioritizing sites around public community features that have high heat, low tree canopy coverage, and a high rate of tree loss. As a result, it will help provide those most underprivileged areas in the greater Houston area with tree canopy solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Results are expected by the end of the year.
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones highlights, “In 2020, the Houston Harris Heat Action Team identified Alief and Gulfton, both in Precinct 4, as two of Harris County’s hottest neighborhoods. This alarming finding spurred us to invest $2.4 million to plant trees and install shade structures. This investment will expand the tree canopy, offer more shade, reduce temperatures, and combat the urban heat island effect. Tragically, we have already lost at least eleven lives to heat-related injuries in Harris County so far this summer. As climate change continues to intensify extreme heat in our region, we must act decisively to protect our most vulnerable communities. The 2024 Heat Mapping data will help guide our next steps in building a more resilient Harris County.”
Lisa Lin, Director of Sustainability at Harris County Office of County Administration, says, “With the increasing number of extreme heat events that we’re facing in Harris County, it’s critical to have expanded and updated local data around urban heat island effects to inform future programs and projects. We’re grateful for the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Urban Community Forests grant, which enabled us to conduct another heat mapping campaign. We are also so glad we got to re-engage our residents in this year’s event. It’s a great reminder that everyone can help Harris County be more climate resilient!”
“The 2024 H3AT Mapping Campaign is a historic collaboration and volunteer effort that will help our region adapt to the growing danger from extreme heat,” said City of Houston Chief Sustainability Officer, Nicholas Hadjigeorge. “The City of Houston greatly appreciates the volunteers who contributed their time to this event.”
“We are thrilled to have partnered with HARC again and other organizations across Harris County on the H3AT Mapping campaign this year, which exemplifies our commitment to promoting healthier and safer communities through evidence-based research on heat and humidity data,” said Scott Jeansonne, Environmental Public Health Director at Harris County Public Health. “This vital research plays an important role in our built environment and public health by informing the creation of tree canopies in the most vulnerable areas. These efforts are crucial in improving the livelihood of our residents and their families, making our neighborhoods more resilient against the impacts of rising summer temperatures.”
“Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods are often the first and worst hit by extreme heat, which can have devastating environmental and human health effects,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, Student Conservation Association President & CEO. “By working together to identify Houston’s heat islands, we will be able to better protect the people and communities directly impacted the most.”
The H3AT Mapping Campaign is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program. It is part of a larger initiative called ForUsTree: Creating an Inclusive Community Canopy within Houston and Harris County, which aims to increase tree canopy, foster community resilience, and improve access to employment in underserved communities in Houston and Harris County. This data, along with community outreach and the ForUsTree Partnership made up of 10 governmental agencies, five nonprofits, and one educational agency, will lead to planting and giveaways of more than 50,000 trees.
The equipment, data processing, and modeling for this campaign was provided by CAPA Strategies through the initiative, Heat Watch. For more information, visit CAPA Heat Watch.
ExxonMobil supported the Campaign by providing funds for gift cards for volunteers.
For more information about the H3AT Mapping Campaign, visit www.h3at.org.
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HARC
HARC is a research and implementation nonprofit providing independent analysis on energy, air, water, resilience, and climate equity. Its research activities support the implementation of policies and technologies that promote sustainability based on scientific principles. HARC applies science to drive solutions for a sustainable and equitable future. For more information, visit HARCresearch.org or connect via Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter.
Harris County Office of County Administration
Established by Commissioners Court in June 2021, the County Administrator is tasked with supervising day-to-day operations as well as long-term strategic planning efforts for Harris County.
Harris County Precinct 4
Precinct 4 is one of four precincts located in Harris County, Texas and boasts a population of more than 1.2 million people. Precinct 4 maintains 1,600+ miles of roads and nearly 4 miles of bridges, 10 community centers with more than 700,000 visitors annually, and 55 parks, with 14,000+ acres of greenspace.
Harris County Public Health
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is the public health department for Harris County. HCPH provides comprehensive health services and programs to the community through approximately 700 public health professionals. HCPH’s mission is to protect health, prevent disease and injury, and promote health and well-being for everyone in Harris County by advancing equity, building partnerships, and establishing culturally responsive systems.
Student Conservation Association
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults. Program participants protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks and urban green spaces across the country. The SCA is devoted to building equitable access to nature, providing green job opportunities for young people and teaching members how to become environmental stewards. Founded in 1957, the SCA is committed to building the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to the lifelong protection of the environment and the communities we serve. For more, visit www.thesca.org.
These institutions are equal opportunity providers.
