Abstract
Extreme heat events at urban centers in combination with air pollution pose a serious risk to human health. Among these are financially distressed cities and neighborhoods that are facing enormous challenges without the scientific and technical capacity for planning and mitigation. The city of Camden is one of those economically distressed areas with a predominantly minority population, a high unemployment rate, high poverty rates, and poor air quality (PM2.5 and ozone), and it remains vulnerable to heat events. This paper focuses on studying a coupled effect of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) and Ozone-PM2.5 pollution at the neighborhood-scale in the city of Camden, using fine scale remotely sensed land-surface temperature and air quality data from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Modelling System in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) platform. To assess the impact of urban microclimate on the city of Camden, NJ, residents’ health, we identified several environmental and social parameters as the root causes of vulnerability imposed by extreme-heat and poor air quality. Vulnerability in terms of environment and social wellbeing was spatially quantified as two conceptual vulnerability-index models (i.e., environmental vulnerability index (EVI) and a social vulnerability index (SVI)) using multiple linear regression algorithm. Factors such as remotely sensed earth surface properties, built-environment components, air quality, and socio-economic data were incorporated in a holistic geographic approach to quantify the combined effect. Surface temperature gradient and Proportional Vegetation (Pv) generated from 30 m resolution Landsat 8 were sampled along with other variables in the city of Camden, NJ. Models incorporating Pv suggest better fit than models with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Water fraction (33.5%, 32.4%), percentage imperviousness (32.5%, 32%), Pv (20.5%, 19.6%), and digital elevation model (DEM) (9%, 8%) have the highest contributions in both models. Two output maps identified the vulnerable neighborhoods in the city through comprehensive GIS analysis: Lanning Square, Bergen Square, Central Waterfront, Gateway, Liberty Park, and Parkside. This can provide useful information for planners and health officials in targeting areas for future interventions and mitigations.
Highlights
Pervious lands converted to impermeable surfaces in the process of global urban sprawl has induced serious environmental issues in major metropolitan cities [1], leading to an increased heat effect in urban canopies [2]
Since vulnerability to Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) and poor air quality is a function of several social factors, we identified the vulnerable population by three major criteria: high population density, higher population in 65 age groups, and low monthly household income
Since vulnerability to UHIs and poor air quality is a function of several social factors, we identified the vulneSrianbcelevpuolnpeuralabtiiliotyn btoy UthHreIse amndajoprocorritaeirriaq:uhaliigtyh ipsoapufulantcitoionndoefnsseivtye,rahligshoceiralpfoapctuolrast,iowne in pido6ep5nutailfgaiteeidognrtoihnuepa6lbo5lweagpmeogoprnuotluahptliyso,nhaonbduysleothwhoremledoinmntcahojloymrheco.ruiFtseiegrhiuao:rldeh7iingmchoamppoes.ptFuhilgaeutsirooenc7iadmlepanpasisrtaythm, ehesitogechrisearlof our interpesatrawmitehtedrsatoaf oobutraiinnteedresfrtowmiththdea2ta01o0b–ta2i0n1e4d(ffirvome-ytheaer2)0e1s0t–im20a1t4e(sfimvea-dyeeabry) etshteimAamteesrmicaadneCboymthme unity SurvAeym. eTrihceanceCnosmums turnaictytsScuorlvoerye.dTihne schenasduesstfrraocmts coorlaonregdeitnosrheaddeins fFroigmuroera7nginedtiocaretde tihneFrigeugrieon7s that meetinthdeicsaeteththreeeresguioscnespthtiabtimliteyetcrthiteesreiath. ree susceptibility criteria
Summary
Pervious lands converted to impermeable surfaces in the process of global urban sprawl has induced serious environmental issues in major metropolitan cities [1], leading to an increased heat effect in urban canopies [2]. The elevated temperature patterns along with air pollution cause thermal and physical discomfort, and create major health hazards for the vulnerable population living in cities. The impact of mitigation techniques has shown to reduce heat-stress and can benefit social wellbeing [17]. Prior to implementing such strategies, it is essential to have a broad picture of the societal and environmental vulnerabilities to be prioritized for the interventions. This study can be an intermediate platform to navigate through the social and environmental aspects prone to vulnerability due to both UHIs effect and poor air quality
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