SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL DISTRICT
(SWMD) TRANSFORMATION
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August 2022: Special Edition - Part II |
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Gardening 101
Shade Project Dallas, by CBS 11 Meteorologist/Reporter Jeff Ray
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The SWMD project recently received some media coverage on CBS, with Channel 11 reporter/meteorologist, Jeff Ray. "The Texas Tree Foundation is currently doing a careful and extensive study of the Heat Island effect that exists in the district. This information will inform the final design of the area to maximize the ability to cool the area. And not just provide shade; the trees help mitigate air and sound pollution as well."
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Using Evidence to Inspire Our Design |
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Although extreme heat is typically thought to be an inconvenience, it’s much more than that. Rising temperatures pose a threat to people, ecosystems, and the economy.
Here are some examples:
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✓ Increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits
✓ Increased mortality and morbidity
✓ Agricultural damage
✓ Power outages and disruptions
✓ More severe and frequent disasters (droughts, hurricanes, floods, wildfires)
✓ Road and highway damage, water lines burst, bridges collapse
✓ Delays and cancellations in public transportation
✓ Increase in crimes and violence
✓ Increase in ozone pollution
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The Heat is On...On the Street! |
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Update from Dr. Rose Jones,
Pegasus Park Pilot Study Report
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Two light sensors were added to the Pilot Study at Pegasus Park, which already includes sensors that track radiant temperature and humidity, along with two anemometers. These sensors will be removed from Pegasus Park to be relocated to the SWMD research site, which is anticipated to take place by the end of August.
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[Image: Fort Worth's skyline, as seen from Arlington's landfill in April 2022. Air quality in North Texas has improved since the 1990s, but that improvement has plateaued in recent years. Courtesy of KERA Online.] |
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DFW: #16 in US for Air Pollution
It's Bad Y'all: The Lethal Connection Between Extreme Heat and Air Quality
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When extreme heat and poor air quality combine it causes more health problems than initially thought. Research has shown that the risk of death increases on days when one is exposed to extreme heat or air pollution, but research is also showing that the risk of death increases even higher on days where heat and air pollution exposure combine. One recent study found that on days where extreme heat and air pollution converge, the risk of death increases by more than 20%, with the risk of death being even higher for older adults and those with preexisting conditions.
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Professor, Alex Ponette-González, Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas |
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Interview
Dr. Ponette-González teaches Earth Science, Ecosystems, Geosystems, Environment and Society at UNT
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For part two of our August newsletter, we interviewed Dr. Ponette-González from the University of North Texas (UNT) about her recent National Science Foundation (NSF) grants totaling over two-million dollars. One project looks at how particulate matter from rainfall is captured through forest canopies. Trees...they're nature's air filters!
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This visualization shows monthly global temperature anomalies (changes from an average) between the years 1880 and 2021. Whites and blues indicate cooler temperatures, while oranges and reds show warmer temperatures. As you can see, global temperatures have warmed from mainly human activities as time has progressed. Temperatures are based on data from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). |
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Summer 2022: How hot is it? |
Thursday, July 21, 2022
3000 Pegasus Park, parking lot
Recorded Time: 4:15PM – 4:22PM
Recorded Air Temperature 100/95F
Weather Conditions: Sunny
Data captured by infrared thermometer
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Thanks to all our sponsors and collaborators! |
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Researchers at the University of North Texas found that two oak tree species, widespread across the southern U.S., remove black carbon from the urban atmosphere. Black carbon also represents one of the most harmful components of fine particulate matter. When inhaled, black carbon can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Their findings may offer a natural way to improve climate and air quality. (UNT News Online, Aug 2019)
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Courtney Cecale, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of North Texas, has collected over 400 personal stories from North Texans about how the summer heat is affecting their lives. Here are some of their experiences. The stories are presented anonymously as they will be used as part of Cecale’s research. (Local Today Online, Aug 2022)
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The first study of its kind, this study comprehensively examines the urban form effects on air quality in cities of different population sizes, following trends in 626 Chinese cities; it assesses air pollution in small- to mid-sized cities, which are expected to see the most urban growth. (Lu Liang & Peng Gong, Nature Online Scientific Reports, Oct. 2020)
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According to Green City Solutions, each CityBreeze is capable of filtering 50,000 cubic feet of air per hour, while also reducing the surrounding temperature by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. The moss meanwhile, is kept alive using smart IoT technology, which displays real-time air data on the signage itself. (Design Well Online, July 2022)
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In our efforts to expand engagement and stay connected, we've expanded to LinkedIn! If you are a current LinkedIn member, please like our new page. You’ll find educational content, best practices, and updates on the District’s transformation.
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