With a NASA grant, researchers are working to protect sensitive communities from a dangerous, and increasingly common, combination of hazards
RESEARCH TO WATCH
WHAT'S THE STUDY: Researchers from the University of Michigan are working to help communities in the Pacific Northwest better protect residents from the combined dangers of wildfires, smoke and extreme heat. With support from NASA and in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, the research is focused especially on sensitive populations, including people who are older, people who are pregnant, people with chronic illnesses and people who work outdoors. The team also includes collaborators at the University of Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority and University of Wyoming.
One arm of the project is working to predict which areas and communities are most at-risk for this triple exposure to threats by using computer models along with satellite and demographic data. Another is understanding how public health professionals can make recommendations to protect people under complex hazard conditions. The project will result in decision-making tools to help communities prepare and have plans in place for when these hazards combine.
WHY IT MATTERS: Summers in the U.S. are becoming increasingly defined by wildfires, smoke and extreme heat. In the Pacific Northwest, more than 80 wildfires are currently burning and filling the skies with smoke in a region where many don't have air conditioning or air filtration systems. So what can be done to protect people when going inside exacerbates the risk of extreme heat and does little to improve air quality? How can people best manage their safety when their livelihoods depend on them being outdoors? This work will help officials answer those questions to save lives and build resilience.
HOW MUCH AND FOR HOW LONG: Up to $894,452 with a completion date scheduled for Dec. 31, 2027
WHO'S INVOLVED:
Alexandra "Paige" Fischer, associate professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, or SEAS, is a social scientist who studies wildfires. She conducts research on how people experience and perceive wildfire risk, as well as what motivates and constrains them in taking action to reduce risk. She also examines how people adapt to long-term changes in climate conditions that drive wildfire risk. Fischer directs the Western Forest and Fire Initiative, an interdisciplinary team of researchers studying how human communities and ecosystems can adapt to more flammable, smokier, and hotter conditions.
"When we were first applying for this grant just a few years ago, these conditions were rare, but we anticipated they would happen more often in the future. Now, communities all over the Pacific Northwest are experiencing heat waves and extreme smoke conditions at the same time, some with active fires burning nearby" Fischer said.
"I was in Oregon last week and the air quality index was around 200, which is unhealthy, and it was over 90 degrees. But people were outside, some walking their dogs and riding their bikes, and others who needed to work outside: farmers, ranchers, construction workers. People may still be becoming aware of how heat compounds the effects of smoke and vice versa, but at the same time, what can they do? Few people's lifestyles and livelihoods make it easy to shelter inside, and even when they do, not all homes and workplaces are well-sealed to keep out the smoke with HVAC systems that keep them cool. And that all goes out the window, so to speak, when they need to prepare for a potential evacuation from a nearby fire. This is a new thing to contend with. We're working to help public health professionals anticipate and prioritize the different threats for different groups of people."
Heidi Huber-Stearns is an associate research professor and director of the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice at the University of Oregon. With expertise in environmental governance and linking science to action through strategic and diverse partnership, she focuses on addressing wildfire and other risks to at-risk communities, especially in the western U.S.
"At the Smoke Center, we emphasize that when air quality guidance refers to 'sensitive groups,' that includes all children, all older adults and anyone with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions," Huber-Stearns said. "People sometimes assume those categories apply only to a small number of individuals, when in fact they represent a substantial portion of the population."
Marie O'Neill is a professor of epidemiology and environmental health sciences at the U-M School of Public Health. Her research has addressed health effects of air pollution, temperature extremes and other extreme weather events, as well as the role of vegetation, housing and energy security in preventing adverse impacts, with a focus on reducing health disparities. She has collaborated with researchers in Latin America, and engaged in community based participatory research in Detroit.
"Wildfire smoke can travel great distances. Not only do the communities where fires are burning have significant challenges, but Detroit, for example, has been ranked the most polluted city in the world due to the transported smoke on more than one occasion in recent years," O'Neill said. "Public health officials and trusted community leaders and service providers can help residents avoid exposure to smoke and heat. For example, local organizations have held workshops on building a simple box filter that can reduce pollution indoors, and cooling centers and resilience hubs provide people with a safe and clean indoor refuge in many areas. Power outages and energy insecurity, however, can limit the ability to provide these environments, so in the long-term, providing stable and affordable energy, ideally through renewable sources, is critical for protection.
"While the 'new normal' of hotter summers and simultaneous wildfire smoke exposure in multiple places requires thoughtful responses, these challenges can bring out compassion and ingenuity to meet the moment. NASA funding allows our team of researchers from multiple disciplines to partner with public health officials and others on the front lines, serving communities, to develop innovative solutions informed by sound science.
"One important area of research is how heat and wildfire smoke, both separately and together, can affect the health of pregnant people and their developing fetuses. These are another sensitive group, since evidence suggests that these exposures can affect the health of the pregnancy, and be related to preterm birth. Our hope is to continue to contribute to evidence that can be applied to interventions or procedures, in partnership with practitioners and members of affected communities."
Gretchen Keppel-Aleks is an associate professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, or CLaSP, at U-M. Her team is working to understand the impacts of global climate change, especially by advancing the use of remote sensing data to develop a predictive understanding of climate feedback and ecosystem health.
"When people think 'NASA,' they might think about sending astronauts to the moon. But it's important to note that NASA's science mission is both broader and deeper than that goal. NASA has, over the past 50+ years, developed cutting edge satellite missions that allow us to observe and, therefore, understand our home planet. Our compound wildfire hazards project is one example of how we can take the understanding of natural systems enabled by NASA earth science and apply it toward making people's lives and health better," Keppel-Aleks said.
"Because climate is changing, many of the risks faced by communities are changing rapidly-faster than we can predict and faster than we can provide guidance for how people can minimize risk through behavior or infrastructure. In Michigan, we experienced our own compound wildfire hazards in July, with hazardous AQI occurring on days with temperature exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of us were unprepared for these challenges. The research we are doing in this project will provide knowledge not just about smoke, heat and fire in the Pacific Northwest, but can ultimately help other regions figure out how to adapt to previously unheard of risks. Our goal is to take our understanding from our research and make it into something that can be understood by and used by anyone."
