Assessing temperature-related deaths in urban heat islands
Cities having higher ambient temperatures than rural surroundings (known as the urban heat island effect) could offset some of the negative effects of increased heat-related mortality by reducing the number of deaths associated with cold exposure in some global cities, according to a study in Nature Climate Change. These findings highlight the importance of developing region- and season-specific strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
The urban heat island effect contributes to an increase in human heat exposure and subsequent death globally during hotter seasons. However, this phenomenon could also impact the rate of cold-related deaths in cooler conditions. This dual impact could vary across regions and seasons, but previous research has often focused on the effect at the local scale. In the context of climate change and rapid urbanisation, it is important to understand the broader impact of the urban heat island effect on both heat- and cold-related deaths for urban heat mitigation strategies.
Dr. Wenfeng Zhan from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China and others analysed multiple data sources, including remote sensing data and climate and socioeconomic factors (such as Gross Domestic Product), to establish mortality-temperature relationships across more than 3,000 cities worldwide. They found that the reduction in cold-related mortality under the urban heat island effect is 4.4 times greater than the increase in heat-related mortality in 2018. The authors further observed that cities at high latitudes saw an even higher reduction — Moscow, for example, saw a reduction in cold-related deaths that was 11.5 times greater than those associated with heat. The authors further analysed the role of increasing vegetation and the reflectivity of buildings (albedo), which are current strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect. They found that these strategies could result in an increase in cold-related deaths that surpasses heat-related deaths globally depending on the magnitude of the intervention and the season in which it is implemented.
The authors emphasise that their findings should not be interpreted as downplaying the negative health outcomes of the urban heat island effect but instead offer crucial insights into the specifics of its impact across seasons. They further suggest that cities must take a seasonal approach to mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Economic Times
Can India match China's STEM success by rethinking its higher education model?
On a different ivy league: Students of Nanjing University My daughter, who is completing high school, has expressed interest in continuing her education in the biotech space at college level and beyond. While researching the top institutions globally in this space, I was surprised to see a plethora of Chinese universities dominating the rankings. As I looked through other STEM areas, the same pattern emerged - if not accentuated - with much larger presence of Chinese universities, especially in areas of computer science and AI.I recollected a conversation with a professor-friend of mine in the US, who had been tracking Chinese research output. He had told me that over the past 20 years, output from Chinese universities in STEM has been continuously exceeding that from the US. For a country that still gets lampooned in international media for 'cheap copy' or 'substandard product', increasingly innovative capabilities in social media like TikTok, or in AI like DeepSeek and Manus, are stunning the world. China's dominance in solar cell manufacturing and EVs is already well known. So, how did China make it happen? Project 985, conceptualised in 1998 by the Jiang Zemin administration, selected 39 universities for increased investments to make them 'world-class'. The results are now showing. Focus on the number of universities has since gone far beyond the original 39. Ecosystems are forming around chosen universities similar to ones created in areas like Boston and Bay Area in the responded to the looming challenge in its 2016 budget by identifying 20 universities across private and public sectors in which GoI was willing to invest significant sums to make them 'world-class'. After the initial hullabaloo over the selected private universities, not much discussion about investments or their impact has been made in the public having many interesting ideas, India's next important effort around education through National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has been stuck in 'debates' over matters like 'imposition of Hindi' and 'central interference'. Here, too, the results show. While there was much joy in Kolkata for pipping Bengaluru as India's top research hub in the prestigious Nature Index 2024, the former was ranked 84th and the latter 85th among 200 science cities across the world. Beijing topped the list, followed by Shanghai, New York, Boston and Nanjing. Five Chinese cities were in the index's top 10 (compared to four American cities). Can a democratic, diverse India respond in the same way to China's top-down, centralised approach to higher education excellence? Probably not. To achieve success, India should consider two things: Instead of trying to convert individual universities as islands of academic and research excellence, India should look to identify cities that could become hubs of subjects like AI, quantum computing, biotech and climate technology. Each of these areas could be looked at from all angles including - but not limited to - research and innovation, while expanding to consider its impact from areas like IP and legal issues, looking at commercialising these innovations, or even studying its impact across societies. Indian cities are blessed with good academic institutions that can be leveraged to create talent across key futuristic areas by creating excellence in one area to start with. They can then become hubs of talent providing 360° perspectives across innovation, commercialisation and consulting, which a single-minded vision around research in an undemocratic monolithic society like China's cannot. Given the Trump administration's unprecedented assault on its higher education system - the threat to shut down Harvard's foreign enrolment being the latest, even as it was blocked for the time being by a federal judge on Friday - India is the only large democratic country with both the ability and the willingness of its population to absorb institutions and academics seeking a safe haven outside the US. While NEP does talk about introducing foreign education institutions within India, we have so far failed to bring in anyone worthwhile. It would be advisable to relook at our policies and redouble efforts both from central and state levels to bring immediate improvement to India's higher education ecosystem. While we should continue to focus on building homegrown institutions, there's no doubt that competition from foreign universities, along with access to globally recognised academics, will provide immense opportunities to, and traction for, India's this would, of course, require our politicians and administrators to be a little more thick-skinned and willing to accept criticism and research output that could even be contrary to their ideological posturings. But is it not what a healthy democracy is all about? If that allows us to 'reclaim' our 'Nalandas' and become a real 'Vishwaguru', pinpricks some politicians could feel would be a small cost to primary and secondary education improvements are necessary to solve today's problem, higher education can be the doorway for India to claim dominance in this century. If we don't act now, it'll be difficult to catch up to the yawning gap between us and China, and the US. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. What pizzas are Indians eating? The clue lies with India's largest QSR. Why high gold prices are making both banks and their borrowers smile How does IndusInd's 'fraud' tag affect its future? RBI has cut repo rates twice in 3 months. But that isn't enough to boost the economy! As India steps up commercial shipbuilding, it needs a supply chain boost Stock Radar: RITES stock breaks out from Ascending Triangle pattern; time to buy? Brokerage Radar: Morgan Stanley downgrades IndusInd Bank; BNP Paribas views DOMS Industries as top consumer sector pick Corrections come and go; focus on business and its growth: 6 large-caps from different sectors with upside potential of up to 52% Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14-05-2025
- Business Standard
Apple previews AI model that builds 3D scenes using images: How it works
Apple has published a new research paper detailing an artificial intelligence (AI) model called Matrix3D. Developed in collaboration with researchers from Nanjing University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Matrix3D enables the reconstruction of detailed 3D scenes and objects using only a few 2D images. This marks a significant shift in how photogrammetry – an established technique for reconstructing 3D structures from photos – is approached. What is photogrammetry In its research paper, Apple noted that photogrammetry is a process of using 2D photographs to measure and recreate 3D structures or environments. Traditionally, this process has required hundreds of images taken from various angles and involves a multi-step pipeline using different algorithms for tasks like camera pose estimation (figuring out where each camera was when the photo was taken), depth prediction, and 3D model construction. How Matrix3D streamline photogrammetry process Apple's Matrix3D addresses two major challenges in traditional photogrammetry: the need for a large number of images from multiple angles, and the use of separate models for each stage of reconstruction. Matrix3D solves both problems by unifying the entire process into a single model. It can estimate camera positions, generate depth maps, and even synthesize novel views — all from just a few input images. How Matrix3D works At the heart of Matrix3D is a generative AI system based on diffusion transformers, similar to the models powering tools like OpenAI's DALL-E and ChatGPT. During training, the model uses a technique called masked learning, where parts of the input are deliberately hidden so the model learns to predict the missing data. This approach helps Matrix3D effectively handle sparse or incomplete input and significantly expands the range of usable training samples. As a result, Matrix3D can reconstruct detailed 3D objects or entire scenes using just two or three images. Availability and use case The researchers have published their work on arXiv and released the source code on GitHub. A companion website also features demo videos and interactive 3D reconstructions. While there's no official word yet, Matrix3D could eventually be integrated into Apple's Vision Pro headset, allowing users to transform regular 2D photos into immersive 3D experiences.
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- The Hindu
Assessing temperature-related deaths in urban heat islands
Cities having higher ambient temperatures than rural surroundings (known as the urban heat island effect) could offset some of the negative effects of increased heat-related mortality by reducing the number of deaths associated with cold exposure in some global cities, according to a study in Nature Climate Change. These findings highlight the importance of developing region- and season-specific strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect contributes to an increase in human heat exposure and subsequent death globally during hotter seasons. However, this phenomenon could also impact the rate of cold-related deaths in cooler conditions. This dual impact could vary across regions and seasons, but previous research has often focused on the effect at the local scale. In the context of climate change and rapid urbanisation, it is important to understand the broader impact of the urban heat island effect on both heat- and cold-related deaths for urban heat mitigation strategies. Dr. Wenfeng Zhan from Nanjing University, Nanjing, China and others analysed multiple data sources, including remote sensing data and climate and socioeconomic factors (such as Gross Domestic Product), to establish mortality-temperature relationships across more than 3,000 cities worldwide. They found that the reduction in cold-related mortality under the urban heat island effect is 4.4 times greater than the increase in heat-related mortality in 2018. The authors further observed that cities at high latitudes saw an even higher reduction — Moscow, for example, saw a reduction in cold-related deaths that was 11.5 times greater than those associated with heat. The authors further analysed the role of increasing vegetation and the reflectivity of buildings (albedo), which are current strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect. They found that these strategies could result in an increase in cold-related deaths that surpasses heat-related deaths globally depending on the magnitude of the intervention and the season in which it is implemented. The authors emphasise that their findings should not be interpreted as downplaying the negative health outcomes of the urban heat island effect but instead offer crucial insights into the specifics of its impact across seasons. They further suggest that cities must take a seasonal approach to mitigating the urban heat island effect.
