April 23rd to May 3rd was proclaimed “South Carolina Heat Safety Week” by Governor Henry McMaster and Charleston City Mayor William Cogswell. In a Charleston city council meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Cogswell recognized the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s Charleston Heat-Health Research Project (CHHRP). The mayor was joined onstage by Dr. Scott Curtis, Director of The Citadel James B. Near, Jr. Center for Climate Studies; Dr. Amanda Guthrie, Coastal Climate and Resilience Specialist at the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium; and Kaylan Koszela, Communication and Projects Manager for the City of Charleston.
CHHRP is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) research pilot aimed at investigating extreme heat conditions in Charleston, Las Vegas, Miami, and Phoenix.
Mayor Cogswell cited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s research pilot’s goals “to explore extreme heat impacts on a) city operations and neighborhoods; b) the health of key city populations, including those with pre-existing health conditions, are pregnant, are elderly, children, outdoor workers, student athletes, tourists, etc. and c) to improve federal support and the preparedness for extreme heat days in the pilot cities across the nation.”
Over the last few years, CHHRP and its partners have mapped heat data in Charleston, identifying “heat islands” or areas of increased temperature, such as the Gadsden Green community. CHHRP continues to analyze the cause of these heat islands and identify strategies to improve heat conditions. Charleston residents and visitors may also reference the City of Charleston’s cooling facilities map for public spaces where they can escape the heat.
A map of the Charleston peninsula showing hot spots identified in the heat study.
Cogswell remarked that “the City of Charleston, in conjunction with our local state and federal partners including MUSC, The Citadel, and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium will work together to promote best practices to prevent heat-related illnesses and injuries.”
Contact Amanda Guthrie, Coastal Climate and Resilience specialist, at (843) 953-2097 for more information.