Using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) to predict the risk of heat related deaths

Langlois, Neil E. I.; Herbst, Jonathon; Mason, Kerryn; Nairn, John; Byard, Roger W.

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2012.12.005

Cited by 61 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The function of "heat stress" provides the opportunity to consider the adaptation capacity of people, while "excess heat"-accounting for the people's acclimatisation level-creates a relative heatwave intensity compared to the local climate. Although any result above zero indicates a heatwave [16], a severe heatwave occurs only when the EHF threshold is significantly exceeded [15]. The application of the daily mean temperatures instead of the daily maximum temperatures highlights the importance of daily minimum temperatures during heatwaves, which are assumed to be key indicators of the mortality and morbidity rates.…”

Section: Figure 1 the Indicators And Impacts Of Urban Heatwaves (Uhws)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The application of the daily mean temperatures instead of the daily maximum temperatures highlights the importance of daily minimum temperatures during heatwaves, which are assumed to be key indicators of the mortality and morbidity rates. The calculation is proven through the direct correlation presented between EHF index changes and mortality rates during the heatwaves in South Australia in 2009 [16] and globally [15]. The EHF opens new opportunities for studies in the field of heatwave vulnerability.…”

Section: Figure 1 the Indicators And Impacts Of Urban Heatwaves (Uhws)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since heatwaves vary with climate and latitude, a globally congruent definition has not been accepted [15,16]. However, heatwaves can be generally defined as a period of consecutive days with extremely high temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, heatwaves can be generally defined as a period of consecutive days with extremely high temperature. As an example, in Adelaide, the term heatwave refers to five consecutive days with at least 35 °C or above, or three consecutive days at least 40 °C or above [17] A globally adaptable definition of heatwaves and a new unit called excess heat factor (EHF) have been introduced recently by Nairn and Fawcett [15,16]. According to their study, an alarming rise in the frequency, magnitude and length of heatwaves is predicted [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Retrofitting Precincts for Heatwave Resilience: Challenges and Barriers in Australian Context

Hatvani-Kovacs

Boland

2015

Challenges

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Abstract:As the frequency and intensity of heatwaves are growing in Australia, strategies to combat heat are becoming more vital. Cities are exposed to urban heat islands (UHIs) due to excess urbanisation. In this study, a definition of urban heatwave (UHW) is conceptualised to investigate the combined impacts of heatwaves and UHIs. To quantify the negative impacts of UHW, indicators-such as excess morbidity, electricity and water consumption-are considered. The intensity of UHWs is calculated using the unit of excess heat factor (EHF), developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. EHF enables the comparability of UHWs in different geographical locations. Using the indicators and the intensity of UHWs, a calculation method to quantify heatwave resilience at a precincts scale is proposed. The study summarises the assumed influential factors of precinct heatwave resilience based on the existing literature and propose a "cool retrofitting toolkit" (CRT). CRT creates the framework to assess the adaptation to and mitigation of UHWs available to retrofit existing precincts, and to evaluate potential retrofitting strategies in terms of energy and carbon efficiency, financial affordability and perceived acceptability by population. This study illuminates the importance of climate, function, built environment and population characteristics-conscious retrofitting. OPEN ACCESSChallenges 2015, 6 4

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Section: Figure 1 the Indicators And Impacts Of Urban Heatwaves (Uhws)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Figure 1 the Indicators And Impacts Of Urban Heatwaves (Uhws)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Retrofitting Precincts for Heatwave Resilience: Challenges and Barriers in Australian Context

Hatvani-Kovacs

Boland

2015

Challenges

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“…Certainly, forensic pathologists are continually encountering cases where deaths may have either been caused by, or associated with, high environmental temperatures, and in many parts of the world there does appear to have been an increase in numbers of heat-related deaths [3,4]. In January-February 2009, summer temperatures in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, reached record levels, with 8 days having maximum temperatures above 40°C, including the hottest day in 70 years with a temperature of 45.7°C [5]. The results of this heat wave included a marked increase in deaths, particularly of elderly individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Heat-related deaths

Byard

2013

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

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Characterizing extreme and oppressive heat waves in Illinois

Ford

Schoof

2017

JGR Atmospheres

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Heat waves are characteristic features of summertime climate in the Midwest United States and can have significant agricultural, hydrological, and societal impacts. Historically, heat waves in the Midwest state of Illinois have been either extreme (high temperature and low humidity) or oppressive (high temperature and high humidity) in nature, but our knowledge of the factors determining which heat wave type occurs is limited. We use self‐organizing maps to classify synoptic‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with oppressive and extreme heat events and analysis of variance to evaluate the atmospheric and land surface features responsible for differences in humidity that characterize the two. We find that the majority of extreme and oppressive heat events are associated with similar synoptic‐scale atmospheric conditions. Additionally, both locally evaporated moisture and advected moisture sources were important for determining which of the two heat wave types occurred. Specifically, oppressive heat waves were characterized by abundant antecedent precipitation, surplus soil moisture, and elevated evapotranspiration and related atmospheric humidity. Lower humidity levels during extreme heat wave events were driven by relative reductions in evapotranspiration due to limited soil water content. Overall, our results suggest that the onset of heat waves in Illinois is primarily driven by circulation features in the upper atmosphere; however, the distinction of extreme or oppressive heat wave is due to differences in boundary layer humidity, driven in part by land surface moisture availability for evapotranspiration.

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Using the Excess Heat Factor (EHF) to predict the risk of heat related deaths

Cited by 61 publications

References 6 publications

Retrofitting Precincts for Heatwave Resilience: Challenges and Barriers in Australian Context

Retrofitting Precincts for Heatwave Resilience: Challenges and Barriers in Australian Context

Heat-related deaths

Characterizing extreme and oppressive heat waves in Illinois

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