Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7725-1460
Date of Award
5-1-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
Lawrence Kiage
Second Advisor
Dajun Dai
Third Advisor
David Iwaniec
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The intensity and occurrence of heat waves are predicted to increase due to climate change. In the United States, intense heat is categorized as the leading cause of mortality rates among other extreme natural events. Continuous exposure to extremely high temperatures causes increased morbidity and mortality rates. Outdoor workers, unhoused populations, the elderly, and minority groups are more susceptible to heat-related impacts due to less adaptive capacity and lack of resilience to cope and recover from heat risks. This study aimed to examine the spatiotemporal trends of intense heat, assess the impacts of disparate land cover types on heat trends, and determine the spatial distribution of minority groups in extreme heat-prone areas. This research established a direct relationship between the spatial variability of social vulnerability and heat vulnerability. The study also revealed that areas with asphalt material and minimal vegetation, such as bare ground surfaces, exhibited higher average surface temperatures.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/36979667
Recommended Citation
Macharia, Consolata W., "Understanding the Intersection of Social Vulnerability, Land Cover Changes, and Heat Exposure in Reno, Nevada, USA." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/36979667
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