Hotter Times #20: It's that heat that heat that heat
Plus an offer to beta test our very own climate risk devices
Much of the US and Canada are in an early heatwave. In Montréal the high temperature the past few days has been hovering around 35 C/95 F. And with humidity, the heat index is 44 C/111 F. Today is the last day of a long three days.
The reality is that we’re fortunate to have short heatwaves. In southern Thailand, near Malaysia and Singapore, they have been enduring a 2 month long heatwave, with temperatures 20 F/11C hotter than their already hot temperatures. That’s a 5.3 sigma event, meaning on a daily basis it should occur once in about 5000 years.
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Persistent, elevated heat is an issue that affects us all. To avoid unnecessary suffering (like the British doctor and other tourists that have died in Greece due to heat exposure), we need tools that can help us easily understand our climate risk and what activities we should and should not be doing.
The original goal of Hotter Times was to raise awareness around extreme weather. Having personally experienced a damaging extreme weather event, I’ve seen how the lack of preparation can lead to years of suffering. And just like in Greece, that suffering is uneven and sometimes unpredictable.
What we do know is that older people are more susceptible to extreme heat. The so-called survivability limit illustrates the maximum temperature and humidity people at different ages can survive. Unfortunately, this limit doesn’t help people make practical decisions except in the most extreme conditions. The livability curve addresses this and shows what activities people can comfortably do in different conditions.
This information is still rather technical and inaccessible to the layperson. What we are doing is bringing that information into Hotter Times so people can get personalized heat risk warnings. Imagine if you have a risk forecast that tells you specifically that given your age, you should limit outdoor activities to 1 hour of light walking. Or if you’re pregnant, ensure you spend at least 3 hours in a cool room with temperatures below 23 C/75 F.
Personalized heat risk is one of the ways that this scrappy startup project is helping the UN meet their goal of having everyone protected by an early warning system by 2027. As we roll out our own devices, we will be able to provide a complete suite of personalized climate risk to every device owner.
Speaking of devices, our first batch of devices for beta testing will be produced soon. These devices will include sensors for air temperature, humidity, and air pressure. Data from the device will be visible directly in Hotter Times! A limited number of beta devices will be available for sale for $80 each (plus tax and shipping). Please contact me if you are interested in a device. We will be working closely with beta users to work out kinks and fine tune the user experience. If you are interested in testing the long range wireless networking between devices, I suggest getting 2 or 3 devices.
Hotter Times is published by Zato Novo. We are building the Climate Adaptation Data Platform, an open source sensor and data infrastructure to accelerate climate action and digital development projects. Quickly build applications for food security and public health that rely on hyperlocal weather forecasts. Get in touch with Brian at rowe@zatonovo.com to learn more.