Unequal exposure to heatwaves in Los Angeles: Impact of uneven green spaces.

ABSTRACT: Cities worldwide are experiencing record-breaking summer temperatures. Urban environments exacerbate extreme heat, resulting in not only the urban heat island but also intracity variations in heat exposure. Understanding these disparities is crucial to support equitable climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. We found persistent negative correlations between daytime land surface temperature (LST) and median household income across the Los Angeles metropolitan area based on Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station observations from 2018 to 2021. Lower evapotranspiration resulting from the unequal distribution of vegetation cover is a major factor leading to higher LST in low-income neighborhoods. Disparities worsen with higher regional mean surface temperature,

SUBMITTER: Yin Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10146884 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature