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Assessing Vulnerability to Urban Heat: A Study of Disproportionate Heat Exposure and Access to Refuge by Socio-Demographic Status in Portland, Oregon

Author

Listed:
  • Jackson Voelkel

    (School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

  • Dana Hellman

    (School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

  • Ryu Sakuma

    (Peace Winds Japan, Tokyo 151-0063, Japan)

  • Vivek Shandas

    (School of Urban Studies and Planning, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

Abstract

Extreme urban heat is a powerful environmental stressor which poses a significant threat to human health and well-being. Exacerbated by the urban heat island phenomenon, heat events are expected to become more intense and frequent as climate change progresses, though we have limited understanding of the impact of such events on vulnerable populations at a neighborhood or census block group level. Focusing on the City of Portland, Oregon, this study aimed to determine which socio-demographic populations experience disproportionate exposure to extreme heat, as well as the level of access to refuge in the form of public cooling centers or residential central air conditioning. During a 2014 heat wave, temperature data were recorded using a vehicle-traverse collection method, then extrapolated to determine average temperature at the census block group level. Socio-demographic factors including income, race, education, age, and English speaking ability were tested using statistical assessments to identify significant relationships with heat exposure and access to refuge from extreme heat. Results indicate that groups with limited adaptive capacity, including those in poverty and non-white populations, are at higher risk for heat exposure, suggesting an emerging concern of environmental justice as it relates to climate change. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusion, in combination with effectively distributing cooling centers in areas where the greatest burden befalls vulnerable populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jackson Voelkel & Dana Hellman & Ryu Sakuma & Vivek Shandas, 2018. "Assessing Vulnerability to Urban Heat: A Study of Disproportionate Heat Exposure and Access to Refuge by Socio-Demographic Status in Portland, Oregon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:640-:d:138925
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Claire Conzelmann & Jeremy Hoffman & Toan Phan & Arianna Salazar-Miranda, 2022. "Long-term Effects of Redlining on Environmental Risk Exposure," Working Paper 22-09R, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
    2. M. Luke Smith & Rachel R. Hardeman, 2020. "Association of Summer Heat Waves and the Probability of Preterm Birth in Minnesota: An Exploration of the Intersection of Race and Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Pennell, Grace & Newman, Sarah & Tarekegne, Bethel & Boff, Daniel & Fowler, Richard & Gonzalez, Juan, 2022. "A comparison of building system parameters between affordable and market-rate housing in New York City," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    4. Lucille Alonso & Florent Renard, 2020. "A Comparative Study of the Physiological and Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities to Heat Waves of the Population of the Metropolis of Lyon (France) in a Climate Change Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Kyusik Kim & Jihoon Jung & Claire Schollaert & June T. Spector, 2021. "A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Ashbaugh, Melissa & Kittner, Noah, 2024. "Addressing extreme urban heat and energy vulnerability of renters in Portland, OR with resilient household energy policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    7. Rempel, Alexandra R. & Danis, Jackson & Rempel, Alan W. & Fowler, Michael & Mishra, Sandipan, 2022. "Improving the passive survivability of residential buildings during extreme heat events in the Pacific Northwest," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    8. Kevin Lanza & Casey P. Durand, 2021. "Heat-Moderating Effects of Bus Stop Shelters and Tree Shade on Public Transport Ridership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-15, January.
    9. John Dialesandro & Noli Brazil & Stephen Wheeler & Yaser Abunnasr, 2021. "Dimensions of Thermal Inequity: Neighborhood Social Demographics and Urban Heat in the Southwestern U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    10. Wei Zhang & Phil McManus & Elizabeth Duncan, 2018. "A Raster-Based Subdividing Indicator to Map Urban Heat Vulnerability: A Case Study in Sydney, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.
    11. Fei Li & Tan Yigitcanlar & Madhav Nepal & Kien Nguyen Thanh & Fatih Dur, 2022. "Understanding Urban Heat Vulnerability Assessment Methods: A PRISMA Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-34, September.
    12. Nawhath Thanvisitthpon, 2023. "Statistically Validated Urban Heat Island Risk Indicators for UHI Susceptibility Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-21, January.
    13. Alisha Yee Chan & Ji-Young Son & Michelle Lee Bell, 2021. "Displacement of Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Groups after the Installation of Stormwater Control Measures (i.e., Green Infrastructure): A Case Study of Washington, DC," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.

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