Study Predicts Extreme Heat Rise in US Population Centers
2020-08-30
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1A new study predicts that major U.S. population centers will experience the most extreme increases in heat over the next 20 or more years.
2Some parts of the United States could experience up to 30 times more extreme heat than scientists had predicted, the study found.
3The study was a project of researchers at Arizona State University.
4Their findings were reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
5The researchers made predictions for extreme heat and cold exposure in 47 major U.S. cities.
6To break down the local effects of rising temperatures worldwide, the research team measured the effects of heat in "person-hours."
7This was defined as a human being exposed to extreme heat for one hour.
8The researchers considered three areas.
9The first was local definitions of what an "extreme" temperature is.
10Another was how city environments change the effects of extreme heat.
11The researchers also studied the effects of population migration and growth.
12They also considered local standards for extreme heat.
13This is important because an intensely hot day in places like Phoenix, Arizona, or Austin, Texas, may not feel extreme to locals in those cities.
14However, the same heat in New York City could result in deaths - especially among higher risk groups, like older adults or the homeless.
15With that in mind, the researchers came up with two areas of study: absolute increases and relative increases in extreme heat.
16The top three cities for absolute increases in people affected by extreme heat were New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.
17Relative increases were predicted by combining temperature factors with information on population growth.
18The researchers predicted that the most intense relative increases would be in the Florida cities of Orlando and Miami, as well as Austin, Texas.
19They added that because these cities are growing quickly, more people there will be exposed to extreme heat.
20The southern city of Atlanta, Georgia, made both lists.
21The researchers said the study shows that cities should prepare at the local level to avoid serious disorders and death resulting from extreme heat.
22They expressed support for safety measures such as having cooling centers and water available.
23They also noted the importance of having dependable sources of energy, since extreme heat can lead to power outages.
24I'm Bryan Lynn.
1A new study predicts that major U.S. population centers will experience the most extreme increases in heat over the next 20 or more years. 2Some parts of the United States could experience up to 30 times more extreme heat than scientists had predicted, the study found. 3The study was a project of researchers at Arizona State University. Their findings were reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 4The researchers made predictions for extreme heat and cold exposure in 47 major U.S. cities. 5To break down the local effects of rising temperatures worldwide, the research team measured the effects of heat in "person-hours." This was defined as a human being exposed to extreme heat for one hour. 6The researchers considered three areas. The first was local definitions of what an "extreme" temperature is. Another was how city environments change the effects of extreme heat. The researchers also studied the effects of population migration and growth. 7They also considered local standards for extreme heat. This is important because an intensely hot day in places like Phoenix, Arizona, or Austin, Texas, may not feel extreme to locals in those cities. However, the same heat in New York City could result in deaths - especially among higher risk groups, like older adults or the homeless. 8With that in mind, the researchers came up with two areas of study: absolute increases and relative increases in extreme heat. 9The top three cities for absolute increases in people affected by extreme heat were New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. 10Relative increases were predicted by combining temperature factors with information on population growth. 11The researchers predicted that the most intense relative increases would be in the Florida cities of Orlando and Miami, as well as Austin, Texas. They added that because these cities are growing quickly, more people there will be exposed to extreme heat. 12The southern city of Atlanta, Georgia, made both lists. 13The researchers said the study shows that cities should prepare at the local level to avoid serious disorders and death resulting from extreme heat. They expressed support for safety measures such as having cooling centers and water available. They also noted the importance of having dependable sources of energy, since extreme heat can lead to power outages. 14I'm Bryan Lynn. 15VOA News reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 16We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 17________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19exposure - n. coming in contact with something 20migration - n. when people move to another place, often a different country 21standard - n. a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable 22absolute - adj. complete 23factor - n. one of the things that has an effect on a particular situation, decision, event, etc. 24source - n. where something comes from