FSU researcher receives NASA grant to map extreme heat and protect public health

A collaborative, interdisciplinary team with researchers from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has received an $840,000 grant from NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team.

The project will advance urban heat island mapping and work with local governments to accelerate the development of extreme heat action plans.

The project is led by FSU Professor of Geography and Public Health Chris Uejio in collaboration with Leiqiu Hu at the University of Alabama at Huntsville and Xiaojiang Li at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Extreme heat contributes to the deaths of more Americans than any other weather hazard,” Uejio said. “Partnering with the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, we will generate cutting edge heat and health information for eight local governments.”

NASA’s Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team (HAQAST) uses satellite data to address the challenges related to public health and air quality. The team also helps NASA and other federal partners respond to emerging issues such as wildland fires.

Uejio’s project, “Scaling Earth Observations to Co-Produce Heat Knowledge and Adaptations,” will deepen scientific understanding of how cities trap and intensify heat, while helping local governments develop stronger plans for responding to extreme heat events.

The team will study how extreme heat varies across communities and identify factors that drive those patterns. Researchers will create hyperlocal maps of heat exposure at 1-meter scaling using satellite data and environmental measurements. They will also examine whether local heat-mitigation strategies align with community vulnerabilities and health outcomes.

In practice, this means identifying where extreme heat is most severe, understanding what causes those hot spots, mapping conditions at the street and neighborhood level using satellite data and evaluating whether local efforts are reducing heat-related risks for vulnerable residents.

“It is a joy to work with brilliant scientists across the nation on timely topics to make Americans healthier,” Uejio said.

To learn more about the Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team, visit the HAQAST website. To learn more about FSU’s Department of Geography, visit the department’s website.