New NASA Heat Map Shows Scorching Streets That Can Burn Skin in Seconds

image via New Scientist

July 3, 2024, 7:00 PM

• •A new NASA map shows that pavement in Phoenix can reach temperatures hot enough to cause second-degree burns in seconds.
• •The risk of pavement burns is highest for babies, young children, and the elderly.
• •Heat-related burn cases increased significantly in Arizona last summer, when the state saw record-breaking temperatures.

A new NASA map shows that pavement in Phoenix can reach scorching temperatures that can cause serious burns in seconds. Bob Woolley, a 70-year-old man from Phoenix, fell on his backyard rocks on a hot day and burned his hands, forearms, and leg. The burn center where he was treated saw a major increase in heat-related burn cases last summer. Kristie Ebi, a University of Washington epidemiologist, says public awareness of these risks is lacking.

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