Abstract
Background Increases in extreme heat from climate change in urban environments is a health concern with an identified gap in understanding how ongoing land-based mitigation strategies affect urban heat island (UHI) and heat-related mortality/morbidity. Some major U.S. cities have started to implement vegetation and/or albedo strategies to reduce UHI, as a climate adaptation strategy. The vast extent of satellite and weather data represent a unique opportunity to examine how vegetation and albedo surface reflectance affect UHI and subsequently health. Methods We examined the relationship between climate action plans (CAPS), MODIS-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and albedo surface reflectance with daily temperature for 11 major U.S. urban areas (Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ) for May-September from 2000-2012. City-level albedo and vegetation were examined for temporal trends and association with maximum daily temperature and heat index, with adjustment for year, month, and region. Results Preliminary findings found that 6 of 7 cities with a vegetation CAP had a significant increase in NDVI during the study period. CAPs that increased vegetation were associated with a -5.4°C (95%CI: -5.6, -5.3) decrease in mean daily maximum temperature and a heat index -3.4°C (95%CI: -3.5, -3.2) compared to cities without a CAP. A 1% NDVI increase was associated with a -0.38°C (95%CI: -0.43, -0.34) decrease in daily maximum temperature and a -0.41 (95%CI: -0.51, -0.31) decrease in daily heat index. Albedo based CAPs and the percent albedo had similar trends, but lower effect estimates than did vegetation. Conclusion Results indicate that local daily ambient temperature conditions could be modified by vegetation and albedo levels. These changes are likely to impact health and are highly relevant to discussions of the impacts of climate change.
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