Environmental Assessment and Risk Analysis Element

The urban heat island effect is a critical factor for air quality management and public health in urbanized areas of New Jersey. This effect is related to an increase in temperatures in urban areas as compared to surrounding lower density rural sites. The overall goal of the project was to contribute to effective regional environmental management under conditions of climate change. The related objective of the project was to examine the interactions between future climate change, the urban heat island effect, and potential adaptation strategies. The project consisted of two parts, one focusing on the analysis of the urban heat island phenomenon in the greater Camden region, the other focusing on mitigation strategies for the urban heat island in the city of Camden and adjoining communities. The urban heat island was examined under current and projected climate conditions in the greater Camden, New Jersey, region through spatial analysis of remotely-sensed thermal data and statistical analysis of meteorological station data collected at six urban and suburban stations. Mitigation strategies for the urban heat island effect, including increased urban vegetation and lighter-colored surfacing, were explored using CITYgreenTM, a threshold GIS and modeling application developed by the American Forestry Association. This project in Camden is associated with the U.S. Global Change Research Program. Urban Heat Island and Climate Change: An Assessment of Interacting and Possible Adaptations in the Camden, New Jersey Region William D. Solecki1, Cynthia Rosenzweig2, Gregory Pope1, Mark Chopping1, Richard Goldberg2, Alex Polissar3 Linking Science to New Jersey’s Environmental