Trends in heat-related mortality in the United States, 1975–2004

Scott Sheridan (), Adam Kalkstein and Laurence Kalkstein

Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2009, vol. 50, issue 1, 145-160

Abstract: This study addresses the long-term trends in heat-related mortality across 29 US metropolitan areas from 1975 to 2004 to discern the spatial patterns and temporal trends in heat vulnerability. Mortality data have been standardized to account for population trends, and seasonal and interannual variability. On days when a city experienced an “oppressive” air mass, mean anomalous mortality was calculated, along with the likelihood that oppressive days led to a mortality response at least one standard deviation above the baseline value. Results show a general decline in heat-related mortality from the 1970s to 1990s, after which the decline seems to have abated. The likelihood of oppressive days leading to significant increases in mortality has shown less of a decline. The number of oppressive days has stayed the same or increased at most metropolitan areas. With US homes near saturation in terms of air-conditioning availability, an aging population is still significantly vulnerable to heat events. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009

Keywords: Heat watch-warning system; Atmospheric hazards; Heat-related mortality; Trends; Heat vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:50:y:2009:i:1:p:145-160

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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-008-9327-2

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