title: Spatially Explicit Mapping of Heat Health Risk Utilizing Environmental and Socioeconomic Data.
abstract: Extreme heat events, a leading cause of weather-related fatality worldwide, are expected to intensify, last longer, and occur more frequently in the near future. In heat health risk assessments, a spatiotemporal mismatch usually exists between hazard (heat stress) data and exposure (population distribution) data. Such mismatch is present because demographic data are generally updated every couple of years and unavailable at the subcensus unit level, which hinders the ability to diagnose human risks. In the present work, a human settlement index based on multisensor remote sensing data, including nighttime light, vegetation index, and digital elevation model data, was used for heat exposure assessment on a per-pixel basis. Moreover, the nighttime urban heat island effect was considered in heat hazard assessment. The heat-related health risk was spatially explicitly assessed and mapped at the 250 m × 250 m pixel level across Zhejiang Province in eastern China. The results showed that the accumulated heat risk estimates and the heat-related deaths were significantly correlated at the county level (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.76, P ≤ 0.01). Our analysis introduced a spatially specific methodology for the risk mapping of heat-related health outcomes, which is useful for decision support in preparation and mitigation of heat-related risk and potential adaptation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Island and Coastal Ecosystems, Ocean College, Zhejiang University , Zhoushan 316021, China.
authors.forename: Kejia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Island and Coastal Ecosystems, Ocean College, Zhejiang University , Zhoushan 316021, China.
authors.forename: Xuchao
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8130-7447
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.
authors.forename: Jieming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China.
authors.forename: Fangrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Island and Coastal Ecosystems, Ocean College, Zhejiang University , Zhoushan 316021, China.|Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan 48823, United States.
authors.forename: Jiaguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014887:Weather