Population Health Risk and the Urban Heat Island: The Oklahoma City 2008 Case

An intense heat wave occurred in Oklahoma City extending from late July through early August 2008. To evaluate the combined impacts of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) and the heat wave on community-level risks for heat-related illness, this study used observations from 46 weather stations in and around Oklahoma City coupled with demographic analysis. Results establish that a consistent UHI existed during the study period whereby the composite temperature values within the urban core were approximately 0.5oC warmer during the day, than the rural areas, and over 2oC warmer at night. The impact of warmer urban temperatures coupled with an intense heat wave differentially impacted the city's poorest and most disadvantaged population groups. Results emphasize the importance of local scale intervention efforts; given that heat waves are forecasted to increase in intensity and frequency while urban populations continue to increase both in the United States and around the world.