Columbia, Richland County to take part in national heat study.

• Position: South Carolina's city of Columbia, National Integrated Heat Information System

The city of Columbia and Richland County will participate in a national study aimed at understanding and reducing heat-related health risks.

The urban head island mapping initiative will provide localized detail which can be used to identify areas to improve air and water quality, enhance livability and protect neighborhoods from extreme heat risk.

Grant funding from the National Integrated Heat Information System, in partnership with Climate Adaptation Planning and Analytics, will support equipment, organization and data processing of the initiative. The mapping project is expected to cover 160 square miles of urban and urbanizing areas in Columbia and Richland County, according to a news release from the city.

Mapping campaigns are taking place throughout the country this summer in urban head islands, which can be up to 20 degrees hotter than nearby neighborhoods, according to the release. The islands are places where buildings, pavement and other urban environmental factors amplify high temperatures compared to nearby vegetated areas.

As part of the effort, stationary temperature and humidity sensors will be installed to monitor summer heat. Volunteers are also needed to mount sensors on their car and drive pre-planned routes in the morning, afternoon and evening on an appointed day. The specifically designed sensors will record location, temperature and humidity.

For more information, visit cpac.columbiasc.gov/urban-heat-island-mapping-initiative.

When the initiative is complete, a publicly available report and digital mapping data will show regional variations in temperature and humidity.

Other efforts are taking place in Colorado, Nevada, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee...