Sydney’s microclimates to combat heat
Mapping Sydney’s Microclimates: A Proactive Approach to Beat the Heat
Hey there, Sydney families! Get ready to learn about an amazing project that’s taking our city’s preparation for rising temperatures to the next level. All around our beloved city, 200 innovative temperature gauges are popping up like daisies to help us understand and adapt to our changing climate. In partnership with Western Sydney University, the City of Sydney is placing these bespoke instruments to map air temperatures and investigate the thermal efficiency of our green assets.
“We are in a climate emergency, and this initiative is a bold step towards understanding and combating the heat island effect,” shares Clover Moore AO, Lord Mayor of Sydney. “Identifying microclimates throughout the city helps pinpoint where we need to focus our cooling efforts to protect our communities from extreme temperatures.”
Did you know the CSIRO predicts Sydney will feel more like Grafton by 2050? That’s why this groundbreaking study, which runs until March 2024, is crucial for making Sydney even more liveable in the years to come.
The cool part? The air temperature loggers are strategically housed in white aluminum cans to beat the heat themselves – no direct solar interference here. They’ll be recording data every 10 minutes. Yep, that’s over 3 million data points by the end of the study!
But wait, heat isn’t just about temperature; it’s also about that sticky feeling! That’s why, in addition to the 150 loggers measuring air temperature, another 50 will also keep tabs on humidity to give us the real feel of the weather around us.
Dr. Sebastian Pfautsch, the project lead researcher from Western Sydney University’s Urban Transformations Research Centre, underscores the importance of this study. “Understanding our urban microclimate is key to protecting our workforce and residents from soaring temperatures,” he says.
These precision gadgets will be placed in various environments, from leafy parks to busier, built-up areas, giving us an in-depth look at temperature variations around the city.
And, the City of Sydney isn’t stopping there – they’re planning for a net zero future by 2035 and setting goals for increased tree and green cover by 2050. Go, Sydney!
Eager to find out the results? The study wraps up in September 2024, and I bet we’re all excited to see the findings. Keep a lookout for updates and know that our city is working hard to make your summers more comfortable and safer.
Stay cool and informed by checking out more local stories at news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
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