How America’s Hottest City Is Innovating to Survive | Weathered

In this video, host Maiya May introduces us to Phoenix, ranked as “America’s Hottest City.”

Students will learn how urbanization can increase temperatures of cities in a process known as the “urban heat island” effect. Using Pheonix as a case study, students will discover what cities can do to decrease their mean radiant temperature in a world where average temperatures continue to rise. Students will also have the opportunity to extend what they have learned to consider how rising global temperatures may affect conditions in their own communities.

About the Author:

Merek Chang is a high school science teacher in Hacienda La Puente Unified School District in Southern California. He received his B.S. from UC Davis and an M.A. in education from San Diego State University. He is a KQED Media Literacy Innovator and is passionate about uplifting student voices and connecting the community to the classroom through the lens of environmental literacy and civic engagement.