Analyzing Heat Waves and Environmental Justice utilizing EPA EJScreen using GIS Tools.
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Elizabeth Luna and Tamanna Shahid
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Agenda
ENGAGE
EXPLORATION
REVIEW, APPLY SKILLS
EXIT TICKET
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Worksheet used for AP Bio lesson version of this lesson
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Introduction
Discuss:
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Heat Waves vs Excessive Heat Warnings
Heat Wave: At least 3 consecutive days with high temperatures of at least 90 °F .
Excessive Heat: Issued when heat index values are forecast to reach or exceed 105°F for at least 2 consecutive hours.
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Investigate your neighborhood!
Annual data report shows an estimated 370 heat-related deaths on average each year, about 2% of all deaths over the summer
June 16, 2022 — The Health Department today released the 2022 New York City Heat-Related Mortality Report, an annual report describing the toll that heat takes on the lives of New Yorkers. The report shows that on average each year, there are approximately 370 heat-related deaths. These are comprised of an estimated 360 heat-exacerbated deaths, which happen when heat worsens existing chronic conditions such as heart disease, and 10 heat stress deaths, which are caused directly by heat. The average annual number of heat-related deaths represents about 2% of all deaths each warm season from May to September.
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Let’s investigate one area in particular
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The area in question is the zip code 10035, one portion of East Harlem.
Harlem River Drive to 5th ave, 126th to 130th st
Your Claim: East Harlem (around zip code 10035) is being impacted by heat waves worse than nearby communities and should receive funding for planting more green spaces and counter the effects of heat waves.
Write this claim on your provided worksheet.
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Students must ask and do the following:
* Note: a variation would include a student created anchor charts.
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Using EPA’s EJScreen to Gather Evidence
Go to https://tinyurl.com/ejscreen23
Note: Some of the categories will let you turn on multiple layers at once. (For example, turn on “low income” under Socioeconomic Indicators and “Asthma” under Health Disparities). This will make areas hit by multiple factors a darker shade of red.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created a mapping tool that shows demographic and socioeconomic data in the US. Use this to gather evidence for the claim. Evidence is often numbers-based, such as statistics (For example, ___% of individuals in this area are low-income.) Do not make any inferences based on the evidence though - that will be saved for reasoning.
Make Your Reasoning and Conclusion (Part 3)
On the worksheet, make your reasoning based on the evidence you just gathered.
Reasoning: While the evidence is more data and numbers-based, your reasoning ties it back to your claim.
Then, finalize a conclusion that puts all parts of your CER together.
Template for conclusion: My claim is that … [insert claim here]. My evidence from EJ Maps shows that [insert three pieces of numerical data here]. Therefore, this area is in greater need of funding for green spaces and targeting heat waves (or any variation of this).
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Connecting to Environmental Justice
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Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. - EPA
The evidence you gathered in this activity is often used to back environmental justice efforts and promote building communities that can withstand climate events like heat waves.
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Entire East Harlem Area (multiple zip codes)
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Can you find where East Harlem is? Where is it on the index?
What is the Urban Heat Island Effect?
These hard and dark-colored surfaces contribute to higher temperatures in two ways. They:
The combination of these factors means that cities and other highly developed areas are hotter than areas with more plants. Scientists called this the urban heat island effect.
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Cities are full of rocky surfaces—asphalt, brick, and concrete—that absorb heat by day and release it at night. These materials are used to make the sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and basketball courts of urban areas.
Certain neighborhoods are more affected by this effect than others, even if they’re not too far apart (such as in NYC)
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Why do you think the street on the left would be hotter than the street on the right?
Group Work: Use EJScreen to Promote Local Efforts
Now that you’ve seen one example, use the EJScreen tool to find a different location near you, and use the CER tool to come up with a conclusion about the neighborhood.
Feel free to use zip codes or describe the name of the neighborhood.
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Mitigation Techniques
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Taking Action: (See bottom of page 4 of worksheet)
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Solution #1 | |
Solution #2 | |
Taking Action: (See bottom of page 4 of worksheet)
Pick one resource below and add two more methods you did not come up with.
What You Can Do to Reduce Heat Islands | US EPA�Reducing Urban Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies �Cool Neighborhoods NYC
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Solution #3 | |
Solution #4 | |
Park Serve: Student Site Location, 11703
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Demographic Summary
Suburban Long Island Town
The State Park (463 acres) and town park (27 acres) parallel to the neighborhoods in Purple.
Areas highlighted indicate
Environmental Justice in Action
Consider looking at NYC EJA (Environmental Justice Alliance) website to see how they’ve been helping, and other environmental justice campaigns they’re leading.
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Students for Climate Action is a organization in which students engage with elected officials to bring awareness and action to local, state, and federal legislation and policy issues.
Chapters
-New York
-Texas
-Massachusetts
-Missouri
-Washington
-Amsterdam, Netherlands
Exit Ticket
Make a PSA: Create a 240 character message that will be shared on social media to inform the public in a particular neighborhood about an impending heat wave.
Include the following:
Students can make images, diagram, make a short 60 sec video, whatever format.
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Rubrics Guides
and
Supplemental Activities
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Supplemental Activities
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Additional Items/Graphic Organizers
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Educators Note
Rubric can be adjusted to meet the need of all learners.
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Living Environment/ Biology | Earth & Space Sciences | Engineering Design |
Natural Selection and Evolution
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
| Human Sustainability
Weather and Climate
Earth's Systems
| Science & Engineering Practices
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Want to hear more on the application of mapping tools?
Join Us, Saturday Session (tomorrow), 8:00 am ��Building a Better Tomorrow Using Mapping Literacy�Mile High Ballroom 1F
What is climate resilience? Using open source data demographics, specifically FEMA and EPA mapping tools (RAPT, NRI, and EJ Screen), attendees will learn to connect climate change issues to local communities, exploring the differential impact of climate change on communities to encourage advocacy.
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Contact Information
Elizabeth Luna
9-12 Earth Science Educator
North Babylon High School, Long Island, NY
X: @MrsLofLI
Tamanna Shahid
Special Thanks to the following:
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Together, with your support we are making a difference!