Spokane Heat Maps

"Data from Gonzaga’s Beat the Heat program will help Spokane be better prepared for future extreme heat events and take adaptive measures to support those most at risk from heat exposure. This work will save lives.” - Kara Odegard

 


(View map full screen.)

Initial finding: due to differences in tree cover, green spaces, and dark surfaces, some areas in Spokane are as much as 13.9° warmer. A 90° day in one neighborhood could be a 104° day for another.

Is everyone equally impacted by extreme heat?

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people—regardless of income, race, or color—with respect to both decision-making and the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Are there environmental justice factors involved in the Spokane community’s experience of extreme heat events, such as the heat dome of 2021? Do extreme heat events equally impact residents or do some individuals experience greater impacts?

According to Spokane Beat the Heat research, not all regions or demographics in Spokane are equally affected by extreme heat. Differences in green space and the built environment, mean that some people in Spokane experience more heat than others, which is environmentally unjust.

Correlations of Urban Heat with Race and Income in Spokane, Washington 

Spokane Beat the Heat: Correlations of Urban heat with Race and Income

Urban Heat Islands

What are urban heat islands?

Infrared image
Two infrared photos taken on Gonzaga’s campus illustrate how the built environment can influence heat. St. Al’s church was measured at 88.9 degrees F, while the tree lined path next to it was only 81 degrees.

On sunny days, dark building materials like concrete, asphalt, and dark rooftops retain more heat from light, causing those surfaces and surrounding areas to be hotter. As a result, areas with more buildings and parking lots often experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. However, strategies like increasing green space, trees, and using lighter-colored building materials can help cool down these heat islands. The urban heat island effect is made worse by climate change. It is not a cause of climate change.1

Resources 

Community Partners

The Spokane Heat Watch urban heat island maps were created with the help of 40 Spokane volunteers and with the partnership of the following: 

1  Skeptical Science, "Does Urban Heat Island effect exaggerate global warming trends?" https://skepticalscience.com/urban-heat-island-effect.htm

 

Spokane Urban Heat Island Mapping

40

Volunteers

7

Routes

43,988

Measurements

13.9°

Temperature Differential