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The heat is on. HOBO data logger use for heat studies is on the rise around the world
As the world grapples with intensifying heat waves, fires, and other concerning conditions linked to climate change, HOBO data loggers, weather stations, and sensors have become even more of a "hot" ticket item.
We recently learned how our temp/RH data loggers and monitoring stations are supporting several “extremely” significant heat studies looking at the impacts of excessive, prolonged temperatures on cities, buildings, and their occupants—and potential solutions. We feel pretty “cool” knowing our products are out there making a difference! We'll be sharing more about these and other studies related to climate change in future posts. Stay tuned.
First, perhaps counter-intuitively, we look north to our neighbor, Canada. Even though we may still picture lush, cool forests and crisp, cold waters, Canada, like most countries, has been struggling with unprecedented extreme weather and record temps too. Those high temperatures are further amplified in its cities where urban heat islands form.
A Tale of Five Cities: News Study Looks at Heat Wave Impacts on Canada’s Urban Homes
In response to the alarming consequences the country has begun to experience from heat events, the CBC, a Canadian news station, recently kicked off a five-city-wide "Urban Heat Study." The CBC is not only investigating the current impacts of intense temps on residents, but also seeking to show that things could become dire if cities don’t start addressing the issue.
The CBC needed an intuitive easy-to-use tool that its journalists could deploy and use themselves to measure indoor conditions. The rest is HOBO history in the making. Journalists installed HOBO MX1101 temp/RH loggers in un-air-conditioned homes to track how high temperatures get for the residents, and prove who is at risk when heat waves hit. Watch the video here:
The ongoing study/news series is an effort to raise awareness to building and city managers about the potential need to mandate safe living conditions for vulnerable populations. More and more people compromised—due to age, health, or economic factors—now face unprecedented heat exposure, often without air conditioning, services or shelter. Read an explanation of the heat study and background here.
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The station says they'll be doing further reports on the findings of the study.
We’re so proud to be supporting the people who are working to understand the ever-changing conditions and effects related to climate change, and to help them in their quest to find solutions that protect us, our environment, and our future!
Look for our next post on climate change/heat studies—a massive urban heat study in Chicago, IL, where Northwestern University researchers used HOBO data loggers to monitor underground temperatures in basements and subway tunnels throughout downtown to understand subterranean impacts from extreme temperatures.
More about heat waves & HOBO Monitoring Tools:
Heat Waves and Climate Change: Center for Climate & Energy
US EPA: Climate Change Indicators: Heat Waves
HOBO Weather Stations