© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Hotter days don’t affect Connecticut residents equally. These maps show how.

A map of Connecticut shows Fairfield and New Haven counties covered in varying shades of red. The darkest areas are the hottest.
Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation at the University of Connecticut
This heat map shows in dark red the areas most vulnerable to extreme heat as well as negative side effects. Lighter areas are expected to experience lower temperatures and be able to handle it better. Cities fare the worst in terms of temperature as well as ability to cope with the impacts of heat. The Climate Change Vulnerability Index measures how hot an area will get and how prepared its population is to handle it.

Climate change is happening. In Connecticut, it looks like hotter summers and flooding, according to experts at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation, or CIRCA, located at the University of Connecticut.

But heat doesn’t affect everyone equally. Dr. Yaprak Onat, the assistant director of research at CIRCA, said the question now is how the effects of rising temperatures can be mitigated equitably.

“It is happening no matter what, so we need to plan for it,” Onat said. “Otherwise, there's a lot to lose, especially [in] disadvantaged communities.”

Cities experience some of the worst heat exposure, according to data on the Climate Change Vulnerability Index. Onat and her colleagues at CIRCA gathered data from satellites, demographics and municipalities to measure both heat and populations’ ability to handle that heat. CIRCA started with Fairfield and New Haven counties and plans to gather the data for the rest of the state later this year.

VIEW: CIRCA's interactive Climate Change Vulnerability Index Map

Cities are hotter because of air quality, dense buildings and impervious surfaces, like pavement, Onat said. Cities also lack something she calls “breathing pockets,” like shade or green spaces.

“If you don't come up with solutions to cool down regions and create these breathing pockets, then it’s going to be more challenging for the people,” Onat said, considering those who work outside or don’t have a way to get to the beach.

She expects emergency room visits and mortality rates to rise due to extreme heat, especially in these vulnerable groups.

A map of Connecticut shows Fairfield and New Haven counties covered in varying shades of purple. The darkest areas are the most vulnerable to extreme heat.
Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation at the University of Connecticut
This map shows warmest areas in terms of temperature, with the darkest purple areas the hottest. Dr. Yaprak Onat, assistant director of research at the Connecticut Institute for Resilience & Climate Adaptation, said heat isn't the only factor to consider. Another is a population's ability to withstand heat and bounce back from negative side effects.

Exposure is just one measure of climate vulnerability: The map considers environmental conditions, how sensitive populations are to heat and their ability to bounce back from hot days. Older adults and people with asthma are more sensitive, she said. Low-income people and those without health insurance will struggle to afford an air conditioner or the medical costs of heat exhaustion, Onat said.

“We need to right now define strategies to cope and reduce. So what our institute is looking for is what we can do,” she said.

With this data, CIRCA can focus resources on the most vulnerable populations in the hottest places. It’s working with engineers and planners to create solutions for seven neighborhoods in Fairfield and New Haven counties.

Onat said potential solutions might look like a cooling center or more sophisticated options, all with the intent of making people’s lives more bearable during climate change.

Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. She loves hearing what you thought of her stories or story ideas you have so please email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content
Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.