Extreme Hot Weather Conditions Research Articles

The cooling capacity of urban vegetation and its driving force under extreme hot weather: A comparative study between dry-hot and humid-hot cities

Extreme heat events in cities necessitate closer examination of urban vegetation’ capacity to mitigate extreme hot weather. However, the cooling capacity of vegetation (CCV) and its driving forces of 2D and 3D landscape metrics under extreme hot weather conditions in dry-hot and humid-hot cities, particularly within different functional zones is still not well understood. The results indicate that the CCV is more pronounced in humid-hot cities than in dry-hot cities, particularly during periods of extreme hot weather. This CCV varied significantly across different functional zones, being the lowest in commercial zones and the highest in green space zones. Moreover, residential zones in humid-hot cities have higher CCV when the weather is more extreme. In dry-hot and humid-hot cities, urban vegetation landscape configuration metrics (such as patch and edge densities) contribute significantly to the CCV, and landscape composition (vegetation coverage) also contributes, with a significant increase during periods of extreme hot weather, particularly in humid-hot cities. Additionally, the 3D building morphology plays a crucial role in moderating the CCV; however, its impact diminishes during extreme heat. We also found that the CCV does not increase further after vegetation coverage is greater than 30–40 % in dry-hot cities, compared to approximately 60–80 % in humid-hot cities. The CCV increased nonlinearly with increasing urban vegetation largest patch index and decreasing urban vegetation patch density in dry-hot and humid-hot cities, with different thresholds of vegetation coverage and largest patch index under normal and extreme hot weather. A higher building height increased the CCV in humid-hot cities and reduced the CCV in dry-hot cities, particularly under extreme hot weather, and sparse high-rise buildings were better suited to humid-hot cities for increasing urban CCV. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners to enhance the urban CCV, contributing to long-term urban resilience and public health protection during extreme heat events.

How building arrangements can improve outdoor thermal comfort and indoor sunlight?

In the context of frequent extreme hot weather conditions, high-dense urban areas posed more life-threatening challenges. Such as university dormitories, as important residential spaces, have received very little attention. Moreover, how building arrangements can simultaneously impact internal and external environments remain poorly understood. To bridge this gap, student residential areas of Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang, China were considered as a case study, with the aim of optimal building arrangements that can simultaneously improve the outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) and indoor sunlight (ISL). A combination of on-site measurement and numerical models were employed to simulate various scenarios with different building orientations, building heights and layouts. The result revealed that: first, the building orientation emerged as a dominant factor influencing both OTC and ISL, with the optimal value identified as SE-30°. Second, in the context of extremely hot weather conditions, increasing building height or floor-area ratio contributed to improved OTC. Finally, the building arrangement with inconsistent heights of north-to-south descending order, exhibited a notable reduction in hot outdoor spaces by 18.6%, and attributed to enhanced airflow. The findings provide clear guidelines for improved strategies at the detailed urban design scale, and can further contribute to the development of sustainable cities.

Safety awareness and adaptation strategies of Nigerian construction workers in extreme heat conditions

The nature of most construction activities exposes workers to health and safety risks associated with extreme hot weather conditions especially within developing countries in the global south. Considering the magnitude of health and safety risks associated with extreme heat exposure and the prevailing safety culture, and attitude among workers that impede adaptation to safe work practices under extreme heat conditions, it is imperative that serious attention is given to workplace climate change impact on construction workers. The current study provides empirical evidence on safety awareness and practices among Nigerian construction workers, those often exposed to extreme hot weather conditions. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit data from 576 respondents using random sampling technique and the data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. As part of the study outcome, 57.3% of the respondents raised concerns regarding the non-availability of potable water source on sites, which directly impacts their level of fluid intake while working in extreme heat conditions. To improve safety and enhance productivity, construction organisations need to prioritise workers’ safety through the implementation of sustainable adaptive strategies that include the development of early warning systems related to heat stress at work, development of tailored intervention and adaptive measures and enhancement of heat stress awareness among workers. The study provides evidence on the impact of heat stress among construction workers and the need to improve safety awareness and mitigation against climate change driven extreme heat conditions especially among workers in tropical countries.

Assessing the dynamic thermal performance of prefabricated wall panels in extreme hot weather conditions

Given the potential for extreme weather conditions to cause significant damage to both property and human life, it is imperative to take action to mitigate the impact of such events. Buildings as one of the main shelters of peoples’ lives become critical to study. Especially, building envelopes components that seal the buildings and act as a barrier between indoor and outdoor environments are imperative to evaluate their thermal performance. Moreover, the incorporation of prefabricated wall panels can play a pivotal role in addressing challenges associated with extreme weather conditions due to their capacity to enhance structural resilience, accelerate construction, and encourage sustainable practices. While prefabricated construction has been shown to offer significant advantages in energy conservation, low-carbon emission, and environmental protection, its thermal performance remains uncertain when subjected to significant temperature fluctuations. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to evaluate the dynamic thermal performance of a prefabricated wall panel under extreme weather conditions. Accordingly, a prefabricated wall panel was tested in an environmental chamber, simulating a heat wave that occurred in Chicago in July 2012. The metrics of Decrement factor (DF) and Time lag (TL) were used to measure the dynamic thermal properties. The results show DF of 0.07 and TL of 8 h indicating when considering thickness as a factor, the tested wall panel exhibits superior dynamic thermal performance compared to the other wall panels from the literature. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of building materials and design on energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort.

Analysis of the Health and Safety Challenges Faced by Construction Workers in Extreme Hot Weather Conditions

The increasing number of extremely hot days globally has made outdoor workers more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as heat syncope, heat exhaustion, heat edema, and heat stress. The objective of this article is to identify and analyze the challenges experienced by construction workers who work in extremely hot weather conditions for extended periods of time. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was developed and distributed through the online platform QuestionPro. The 100 responses that were collected were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, and analyses were performed based on physiological indicators such as heart rate and blood pressure and personal indicators such as climate acclimatization and clothing comfort. The results of the analyses revealed that challenges such as physical fatigue, dehydration, excessive sweating, inability to concentrate, and frequent mood fluctuations were unique to individuals based on their acclimatization level, heart rate, and blood pressure. Optimized work-rest hours, the provision of adequate time for workers to acclimate to extreme conditions, and adoption of technologies such as cooling vests and continuous monitoring of workers’ physical parameters are some of the strategies that can be used to protect workers from heat-related health hazards. The article also briefly discusses the practices and regulations that are currently in effect to protect construction workers who are exposed to prolonged hot weather conditions. The findings presented in this article will help professionals in the construction sector effectively manage and safeguard workers’ health in extreme hot weather conditions.

Experimental performance evaluation of closed loop mist/fog cooling system for photovoltaic module application

• Mist/Fog Cooling System for Photovoltaic Module is experimentally presented. • For non-insulated mist box temperature reductions of 24.17% is observed for front surface. • A power gain of 13.54% is achieved for non-insulated mist box. • For insulated mist box temperature reductions of 27.01% is observed for front surface. • A power gain of 16.66% has also been achieved for insulated mist box. Thermal degradation of the PV system is one of the main factors influencing the overall performance, especially under hot climatic conditions. An experimental investigation of a novel mist/fog based water cooling system is carried out for PV modules in outdoor conditions of Sharjah, UAE. This study intends to design and evaluate the performance of mist based water cooling system subject to the PV module application under extreme hot weather conditions. The mist/fog is created through the metallic nozzles with an orifice of 0.4 mm and applied uniformly on the rear surface of the PV module. The micro droplets forming mist/fog strike on the hot surface of the PV module, and instantaneous evaporation causes cooling. A temperature curtailment of 24.17% for front and 33.23% for rear surfaces is achieved, in the case of non-insulated mist box. Consequently, enhancement of electrical power by 13.54% is observed. While, in the case of thermally insulated mist boxes, temperature reduction of 27.01% for front and 34.25% for rear surfaces are observed with a 16.66% gain in electrical power. Besides, the mist cooling has ensured the uniform distribution of surface temperature to avoid thermal stress and eventually hot spots. The IR thermography confirms the uniform surface temperature profile of the PV module. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the mist cooling system in maintaining the significantly low temperature of PV modules and hence improving the electrical power.

Experimental Investigation of Performance of Conventional Vapor Compression Refrigeration Cycle Using Geothermal Cooling in Extreme Hot Weather Conditions

The well-known traditional vapor compression refrigeration cycle is considered to be the most effective technique used in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. It’s used almost in every facility including industrials, homes and food storages. There are some environmental hazards concerning the use of vapor-compression cycles such as global warming and ozone layer depletion mainly due to refrigerant's leakages. However, it's still considered as a leading technology for its capability of producing high cooling and heating powers with great coefficient of performance. The present work represents an experimental investigation of the effect of the condenser's temperature on the thermal performance of a conventional vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The geothermal cooling technique was introduced and utilized for cooling the temperature of the condenser that operates in harsh climate conditions. The experiment was performed using two additional heat exchangers for enabling heat exchange with geothermal temperature. The first heat exchanger (primary HX1) was connected directly to the condenser while the other one (secondary HX2) was installed inside the geothermal hole intended for heat exchange with the geothermal temperature. These exchangers (HX1 and HX2) were thermally connected via two PVC tubes with straight water circulating inside them (using a DC water pump). The experimental results proved the success of the current utilized method in improving the thermal performance of the system. Cooling the condenser via geothermal cooling has led to a considerable reduction in the temperature of the refrigerant and improved the overall performance of the cycle. The experimental apparatus showed an increase in both cooling capacity and COP by 25% and 21.5%, respectively. In addition, a considerable enhancement in the temperature of the evaporator was accomplished to reach a minimum temperature of 14.5ºC.

Extreme Hot Weather Has Stronger Impacts on Avian Reproduction in Forests Than in Cities

Climate change and urbanisation are among the most salient human-induced changes affecting Earth’s biota. Extreme weather events can have high biological impacts and are becoming more frequent recently. In cities, the urban heat island can amplify the intensity and frequency of hot weather events. However, the joint effects of heat events and urban microclimate on wildlife are unclear, as urban populations may either suffer more from increased heat stress or may adapt to tolerate warmer temperatures. Here, we test whether the effects of hot weather on reproductive success of great tits (Parus major) are exacerbated or dampened in urban environments compared to forest habitats. By studying 760 broods from two urban and two forest populations over 6 years, we show that 14–16 days-old nestlings have smaller body mass and tarsus length, and suffer increased mortality when they experience a higher number of hot days during the nestling period. The negative effects of hot weather on body mass and survival are significantly stronger in forests than in urban areas, where these effects are dampened or even reversed. These results suggest that urban nestlings are less vulnerable to extreme hot weather conditions than their non-urban conspecifics. This difference might be the result of adaptations that facilitate heat dissipation, including smaller body size, altered plumage and reduced brood size. Alternatively or additionally, parental provisioning and food availability may be less affected by heat in urban areas. Our findings suggest that adaptation to heat stress may help birds cope with the joint challenges of climate change and urbanisation.

Urban built context as a passive cooling strategy for buildings in hot climate

This paper presents a systematic evaluation of the impact of the built urban context on the cooling energy performance of buildings subjected to extreme hot weather conditions. The proposed approach combines building energy modeling with an extensive parametric variation and statistical analysis scheme. It provides a direct quantification of inter-building shading on energy performance, with an emphasis on the cooling demand patterns for buildings of different types and sizes. Results show that the combined effects of urban context height, distance, and orientation can lead to significant reductions in cooling demand, reaching up to 26% for total cooling loads and 24% for peak cooling loads. The observed savings are particularly notable for residential buildings, making them an ideal target for urban development strategies that aim to leverage inter-building shading effects for energy conservation purposes. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of peak loads illustrates how the density and compactness of the urban form can be used as passive design strategies to reduce the load, and hence, the size of air conditioning systems. Finally, the paper explores how to translate the gained knowledge to design guidelines, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Projections of heat stress and associated work performance over India in response to global warming

Summertime heat stress future projections from multi-model mean of 18 CMIP5 models show unprecedented increasing levels in the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios over India. The estimated heat stress is found to have more impact on the coastal areas of India having exposure to more frequent days of extreme caution to danger category along with the increased probability of occurrence. The explicit amount of change in temperature, increase in the duration and intensity of warm days along with the modulation in large scale circulation in future are seemingly connected to the increasing levels of heat stress over India. A decline of 30 to 40% in the work performance is projected over India by the end of the century due to the elevated heat stress levels which pose great challenges to the country policy makers to design the safety mechanisms and to protect people working under continuous extreme hot weather conditions.

Thermal Performance of Vertical Courtyard System in Office Buildings Under Typical Hot Days in Hot-Humid Climate Area: A Case Study

Due to the different types of courtyards in vertical courtyard system (VCS), their impacts on thermal performance in office buildings may vary. To better understand this issue, this paper investigates the thermal performance impact of three typical vertical courtyards. A field case study was conducted in VCSs during two typical extreme hot days under hot-humid climate conditions. The results show that the vertical courtyards have significant cooling effects under hot-humid climatic conditions. Via testing on linear, integrated, and rooftop courtyard with fusion layout, the fusion one has an obviously positive impact on air temperature reduction (4.3 °C). Compared with the linear and integrated courtyards, the maximum air temperature difference of fusion layout is around 1.6 °C. The thermal radiation environment of the fusion layout was better than that of the other two (linear and integrated). Besides, the surface temperature of the pavements (wood panel) in the vertical courtyards can reach 47 °C, while the vegetation can lower it by 8 °C under the same weather conditions. These findings show that the courtyard with fusion layout is more suitable for extreme hot weather conditions.

Assessing spatial variability of extreme hot weather conditions in Hong Kong: A land use regression approach

The number of extreme hot weather events have considerably increased in Hong Kong in the recent decades. The complex urban context of Hong Kong leads to a significant intra-urban spatial variability in climate. Under such circumstance, a spatial understanding of extreme hot weather condition is urgently needed for heat risk prevention and public health actions. In this study, the extreme hot weather events of Hong Kong were quantified and measured using two indicators – very hot day hours (VHDHs) and hot night hours (HNHs) which were counted based on the summertime hourly-resolved air temperature data from a total of 40 weather stations (WSs) from 2011 to 2015. Using the VHDHs and HNHs at the locations of the 40 WSs as the outcome variables, land use regression (LUR) models are developed to achieve a spatial understanding of the extreme hot weather conditions in Hong Kong. Land surface morphology was quantified as the predictor variables in LUR modelling. A total of 167 predictor variables were considered in the model development process based on a stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR). The performance of resultant LUR models was evaluated via cross validation. VHDHs and HNHs were mapped at the community level for Hong Kong. The mapping results illustrate a significant spatial variation in the extreme hot weather conditions of Hong Kong in both the daytime and nighttime, which indicates that the spatial variation of land use configurations must be considered in the risk assessment and corresponding public health management associated with the extreme hot weather.

Energy performance comparison of concentrated photovoltaic – Phase change material thermal (CPV-PCM/T) system with flat plate collector (FPC)

The current article evaluates a method of cooling low concentration photovoltaic (CPV) through the solid-liquid phase change material (PCM) to mitigate temperature-based power losses and utilize the recovered heat. The heat stored in the melted PCM is exchanged with domestic supply water, thus developing a novel CPV-PCM thermal (CPV-PCM/T) system. The CPV-PCM/T system is evaluated outdoors in the extreme hot weather conditions of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the three consecutive days. The energy performance of CPV-PCM/T system is compared to the ordinary flat plate collector (FPC) and the experiments run simultaneously at the same site. Although the CPV-PCM/T produces lesser net energy (1527 kWh/m2-day) compared to FPC (1803 kWh/m2-day) yet the cost of production is 28% lower than the FPC.

Fires due to Selfignition in (MSWS) Municipal Solid Waste Storages

Growing energy demands and global emphasis on employing sustainable energy resources to meet energy requirements result in increased importance of MSW (municipal solid waste) as a valuable carbondioxide neutral fuel. There is a need to study the factors that may lead to selfignition of MSW, if stored for sufficiently longer period of time. A better understanding of these factors may help in establishing the practicle guidelines for efficient handling of MSW and to reduce the environmental and social costs caused by selfigniting fires. Its importance is evident from the fact that millions of euros are lost every year in Sweden because of spontaneous fires. These fires cause loss of valuable material and injuries to people, and they are also associated with intense environmental pollution, in particular in the form of smoke and water pollution. This study is based on a questionnaire survey among the members of the Swedish waste management association (Avfall Sverige), whose members service 95% of the Swedish population. The response to the survey was 60%. A total of 96 major surface fires have been reported in the past 10 years at storage sites. 74% of these 96 fire incidents were due to self-ignition, 11% were due to known causes other than self-ignition and 15% were due to unknown reasons. In reference to the type of storage, 50% of these 96 fire incidents took place at sites that store both household and industrial waste, 20% at sites that store only industrial waste, and 30% at sites that store household, industrial, and agricultural waste. Regarding the most frequent cause of fire at any storage site, 33% of respondents relate the fire incidents with extreme hot weather conditions, 8% of respondents report that fire incidents at their storage site are mostly an aftereffect of rainfall, 13% relate the fire incidents with cold weather in December, and 46% of respondents experienced the fire incidents throughout the whole year.
 Based on data covering the last 10 years, the average annual amount of emissions of dioxins is (upper/lower bound) TCDD 0.03/0.12 g, PAH 0.98/3.7 tons, PCB 1.66/6.31 g, Hg 16.51/62.59 g, and VOC 18/68 tons from MSW storage fires in Sweden.

An overview of pedestrian signal setting and implementation in the State of Qatar

Abstract: Pedestrian signal control is a main influencing factor on the Level of Service of crossing facilities and on the safety performance considering conflicts with vehicles. In signal design, pedestrian clearance time is a key design parameter for ensuring safe pedestrian crossing at signalized crosswalks. The performance of pedestrian signal control and its impact on pedestrian behavior in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries is rarely addressed in the literature. The characteristics of population, cultural diversity, as well as the extreme hot weather conditions, may lead to significantly different pedestrian behavior in terms of crossing manoeuvres (path and speed), compliance with signal control and interaction with vehicular traffic. This study reviews the pedestrian signal design practices in various countries and investigates the current signal settings along with their adequacy in the State of Qatar using empirical observations. The empirical analysis showed that the 85 th percentile crossing times were longer than the provided Pedestrian Flashing Green (PFG) intervals at the observed crosswalks. Study sites are characterized with unrealistically long Buffer Intervals (BIs) which, from one side, provide sufficient time for pedestrians who started crossing during PFG to complete the crossing. On the other side, they encourage pedestrians to continue crossing after the end of PFG. Additionally, the speed analysis indicated that the observed 15th percentile speed was 1.22 m/s which is similar to the assumed design speed by the Qatar Traffic Control Manual QTCM (2015). Further, the analysis showed that pedestrian crossing speed during PFG or BI was significantly higher than that during PG.

Making the Construction Industry Resilient to Extreme Weather: Lessons from Construction in Hot Weather Conditions

The construction industry is susceptible to extreme weather events (EWEs) due to most of its activities being conducted by manual workers outdoors. Although research has been conducted on the effects of EWEs, such as flooding and snowfall, limited research has been conducted on the effects of heatwaves and hot weather conditions. Heatwaves present a somewhat different risk profile to construction, unlike EWEs such as flooding and heavy snowfall that present physical obstacles to work onsite. However, heatwaves have affected the construction industry in the UK, and construction claims have been made due to adverse weather conditions. With heatwaves being expected to occur more frequently in the coming years, the construction industry may suffer unlike any other industry during the summer months. This creates the need to investigate methods that would allow construction activities to progress during hot summer months with minimal effect on construction projects. Hence, the purpose of this paper. Regions such as the Middle East and the UAE in particular flourish with mega projects, although temperatures soar to above 40̊C in the summer months. Lessons could be learnt from such countries and adapted in the UK. Interviews have been conducted with a lead representative of a client, a consultant and a contractor, all of which currently operate on UAE projects. The key findings include one of the preliminary steps taken by international construction companies operating in the UAE. This involves restructuring their entire regional team by employing management staff from countries such as Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and their labour force from the sub-continent such as India and Pakistan. This is not only due to the cheap wage rate but also to the ability to cope and work in such extreme hot weather conditions. The experience of individuals working in the region allows for future planning, where the difference in labour productivity during the extreme hot weather conditions is known, allowing precautionary measures to be put in place.

Performance of ventilated double-sided PV façade compared with conventional clear glass façade

The outdoor performance of a naturally ventilated double-sided PV facade was evaluated through field monitoring from a small scale test rig. The comparison of its thermal performance with that of a conventional clear glass façade with shield was made through the field measurement. The measured data show that the maximum indoor air temperature for conventional facade is close to 34°C, while 29°C only for PV façades under same summer weather conditions. This indicates that heat gain to building in summer could be substantially reduced and additional electrical power could also be generated from such façade as a byproduct. In addition, the temperature influence on thin-film solar cells was tested. The effect of temperature on the conversion efficiency of thin-film amorphous silicon solar cell is found small. It is observed that a reduction of 15.6°C in module temperature of the thin-film solar cell only leads to a decrease of 0.29% in conversion efficiency. However, the ventilation cooling of PV reduce the possibility of potential overheating problems when PV is integrated into building as an external façade, especially in extreme hot weather conditions. In addition, the internal heat gain could be considerably reduced compared with conventional clear glass façade with shield in summer. A better thermal comfort of indoor occupants thus could be anticipated in the present proposed façade system.

Evaluation of a Heat Vulnerability Index on Abnormally Hot Days: An Environmental Public Health Tracking Study

Background: Extreme hot weather conditions have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but risks are not evenly distributed throughout the population. Previously, a heat vulnerability index (HVI) was created to geographically locate populations with increased vulnerability to heat in metropolitan areas throughout the United States.Objectives: We sought to determine whether areas with higher heat vulnerability, as characterized by the HVI, experienced higher rates of morbidity and mortality on abnormally hot days.Methods: We used Poisson regression to model the interaction of HVI and deviant days (days whose deviation of maximum temperature from the 30-year normal maximum temperature is at or above the 95th percentile) on hospitalization and mortality counts in five states participating in the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network for the years 2000 through 2007.Results: The HVI was associated with higher hospitalization and mortality rates in all states on both normal days and deviant days. However, associations were significantly stronger (interaction p-value < 0.05) on deviant days for heat-related illness, acute renal failure, electrolyte imbalance, and nephritis in California, heat-related illness in Washington, all-cause mortality in New Mexico, and respiratory hospitalizations in Massachusetts.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the HVI may be a marker of health vulnerability in general, although it may indicate greater vulnerability to heat in some cases.

EVALUATION OF A HEAT VULNERABILITY INDEX ON ABNORMALLY HOT DAYS: AN APPLICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH TRACKING DATA

Background and Aims: Heat waves and extreme hot weather conditions have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but the risks are not evenly distributed throughout the population. Previously, a heat vulnerability index (HVI) was created that combined factors of socio-economic and environmental vulnerability, social isolation, air conditioning prevalence, and preexisting health conditions to geographically locate populations with increased vulnerability to heat in metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Our study aims to determine whether the intra-urban spatial distribution of heat vulnerability, as characterized by the HVI, is consistent with increased rates of morbidity and mortality on abnormally hot days. Methods: We defined abnormally hot days as days where the difference between the maximum temperature for that day and the 30-year normal warm season maximum temperature was in the 95th percentile for that weather station for all warm season days (May-September) for 2000-2007. We used Poisson generalized estimating equations to assess the interaction between the HVI and abnormally hot days on hospitalization and mortality counts by zip code, controlling for daily ozone levels and day of week in five states from the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. Results: The HVI was consistently associated with higher hospitalization and mortality rates, but abnormally hot days were not associated with increased morbidity or mortality after adjustment for the HVI. The interaction of HVI with abnormally hot days was not significant. Division of the HVI into three categories showed different trends from state to state, indicating potentially nonlinear relationships between the HVI and health outcomes. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the HVI denotes increased health vulnerability that was independent of the measure of heat that we used. Further investigation of our heat measure compared to other heat measures and the HVI as a measure of vulnerability in other areas of the country is warranted.

Heat and fire deaths, overview and philosophy

At the end of January and beginning of February 2009 a spell of extreme hot weather conditions contributed to the deaths of nearly 150 people in Victoria. However the enormity of this disaster was almost immediately overshadowed by the devastating bushfires of February 7th, an event that claimed the lives of 173 people and was the largest natural disaster in Australian history. This presentation will review the challenges, practical aspects and philosophy of approach relating to the pathological management of both these tragic events.