How Differences in Urban Environments Affect Your Experience of Climate Change Ongoing Study

Climate scientists tend to focus on the big picture such as the accelerating rise of global temperatures, melting glaciers and increases in severe drought worldwide. Closer to home, a study of “microclimate” conditions like temperature within city and suburban neighborhoods can report stark differences depending on features such as the amount of tree canopy cover, pavement, and building surfaces. How you are affected by heat waves, extreme weather and flooding can vary starkly, based on where you live within a city and its green and hard infrastructure characteristics.

Dr. Max Berkelhammer will talk about how a collaboration of Chicago area researchers are studying the current and future microclimates of Chicago area neighborhoods. The work is being completed using unique datasets – such as CTA bus speeds and 311 calls – and an emerging network of observations being made across the city. The observations and measurements will be used to make modeling tools to inform choices about how to shape and improve neighborhoods to reduce risks associated with flooding and heat extremes.

Dr. Berkelhammer is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago where he teaches Earth Science. His research work in Chicago, and around the globe, includes the effects of climate change to agriculture, forest and urban systems, the Ice Sheet in Greenland, and the tropical water cycle in the Indian Ocean.