More than 4.5 million residents live for more than 20 days in a scorching heat of 45 degrees or more, and if a power outage occurs and the air conditioner becomes unusable, half of the population may be hospitalized.
In Phoenix, Arizona, USA, the daytime temperature reaches 122 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Celsius), and even at night it does not fall below 90 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Celsius).
In Phoenix, 4.5 million residents are living in hell: this is life at 113 degrees for more than 20 days | International | EL PAÍS English
In Phoenix, the largest city in Arizona and the fifth most populous city in the United States, few people will be seen walking the streets and boulevards during the day in July 2023. The reason is simple and clear, because the average temperature exceeds 110 degrees Fahrenheit (about 43 degrees) for more than 20 consecutive days in Phoenix. It is said that there are not many days when the average temperature exceeds 113 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Celsius). Furthermore, there are many days when the temperature at night does not fall below 32 degrees Celsius, and it seems that it has not rained for more than four months.
Within minutes of visiting Phoenix, people often experience cracked lips, dry mouth and skin, and frequent headaches. It seems that there is also a problem that heat builds up when charging smartphones due to too much heat. In addition, it seems that there is also a problem that dehydration is difficult to understand because it is too dry to hardly sweat.
With local news repeatedly urging people to stay cool, stay cool, and avoid exercising outdoors, the city council has issued a warning to citizens and created a special department, the Bureau of Heat Management and Mitigation, to deal with those who become unwell.
Local resident Gerald, who has lived in Phoenix for five years, told news media EL PAÍS about the summer in Phoenix, ``No one likes summer, but you have to work.'' He said that even after living for five years, he was ``not used to'' the heat wave in Phoenix, and commented that ``no one can get used to living in a heat wave of 50 degrees Celsius.''
Gerard Estupignan, a meteorologist at
Randy Cerveny, Dean of the Department of Geography at Arizona State University, explains that there are four things that make Phoenix's heat worse. One is the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix, which is said to cause very high temperatures. Second, Phoenix is a city of about 5 million people, so a lot of heat is generated from buildings and roads. Third, there is a very strong atmospheric pressure in the southwestern United States. Fourth, summer storms are occurring a little later than usual.
The following was taken on July 20, 2023, with a thermometer placed inside a car parked outside of Phoenix. Humidity is only 10%, but the temperature is recorded at 59 degrees Celsius.
It seems that it is impossible to sleep without an air conditioner to spend such a heat wave. Therefore, households with air conditioners must always turn on the power. According to Phoenix government data, the city's electricity consumption is hitting all-time highs on a daily basis.
As a result, it seems that electricity prices in Phoenix have increased by an average of 12%. Kyle Tokasy, who has been working at a restaurant in Phoenix for two years, explains that the heat wave has reduced the number of customers to less than half of what it would normally be. However, it seems that the electricity usage fee has doubled as usual. Also, due to the heat wave, there are almost no reservations for
Also, according to a report released by the American Chemical Society in May 2023, power shortages could lead to a death sentence in some cities. According to the report, a power outage in this heat wave could mean half of Phoenix's population need medical treatment that requires medical bills. In the United States, about 27 million people, or 8.6% of the population, do not have health insurance, so if a power outage occurs, many residents may be in a dangerous situation.
About 3,100 homeless people have been confirmed in Phoenix as of 2022, and the homeless population is increasing year by year. For these homeless people, Phoenix's neighbor Scottsdale is building a heat mitigation network. Specifically, public halls, houses, libraries, churches, etc. have been turned into heat countermeasure centers, such as places for air-conditioned snacks, hydration stations, rest areas, and places to provide food, drinking water, and clothing. These facilities are always kept at a room temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) or less, and anyone can stay as long as they like for free. On the other hand, there are almost no such shelters in Phoenix.
In addition, it is said that elderly people who cannot pay their electricity bills are in a dangerous situation while trapped in their homes, and in fact, in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, the number of deaths due to heat stroke was 339 in 2022. This is 5% higher than the number in 2021 and 70% higher than the number in 2020.
In addition, two articles, ``How much temperature can humans withstand?'' and ``How to keep the human body safe even at high temperatures'' are summarized in the following articles.
How hot can humans endure? -GIGAZINE
Related Posts:
in Note, Posted by logu_ii