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Avery Davis
Driving Question:
How can geospatial data visualization help us understand unequal heat risks in Silicon Valley?
Growing up in the Bay Area, I often hear about our region's "perfect" weather. While our weather certainly is mild and enjoyable year round, that does not mean we are unimpacted by urban heat, a problem that is becoming increasingly severe due to climate change. Additionally, urban heat does not affect everyone equally, as infastructure leads to uneven temperatures for certain demographics or groups. My goal was to figure out who is most vulnerable to urban heat in the Bay Area.
Who is harmed the Most?
Who is harmed the Most?
By mapping land surface temperatures in Silicon Valley, it becomes clear that many high schools, particularly public high schools, are significantly hotter than their surrounding areas. Nearly every public high school has multiple artificial turf fields, which have much higher temperatures than other parts of campus and surrounding neighborhoods. For student athletes required to practice on these fields, and for P.E. students simply trying to get their required credit, this means facing real risks of heat stroke, dehydration, and exhaustion. When at Fremont High School, I have been burned while on artificial turf fields (while wearing sunscreen) and have seen my classmates nearly pass out from high temperatures. None of us wanted to spend hours running on artificial turf fields, but we were instructed to by our teachers in order get a passing grade in a required course. Higher temperatures on such fields are not minor inconveniences; they are health emergencies waiting to happen.
One of Fremont High School's Artificial Turf Field in Sunnyvale
This issue sits at the intersection of environmental justice, public health, and education. Low income schools, which are already more likely to have less tree cover and green space, are also the ones most dependent on artificial turf because it seems cheaper upfront. By using NASA ECOSTRESS data to map land surface temperatures, communities will have the evidence they need to demand change because every student deserves a safe place to play.
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