Our team at JC STEM Lab of Earth Observations and the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, led by Prof. Qihao Weng, with Dr. Pir Mohammad, has made significant strides in understanding and identifying dangerous heat wave conditions. Our research, published in Nexus Journal, addresses the urgent need to recognize the impact and severity of heat waves—one of the most pressing climate-induced threats to human health and urban environments.
By examining recent heat wave events in Asia, Europe, and the United States, we evaluated six temperature-humidity-based heat wave indices. Our findings reveal that several commonly used indices struggle to detect dangerous outdoor conditions, especially in low-humidity environments. The lethal heat stress index stood out for its effectiveness, highlighting the importance of choosing the right index for different climatic and geographic contexts.
For more information, you can also visit the publication at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ynexs.2024.100027
And listen to the podcast here
