Volunteers are hitting the streets to clock temperatures. They are looking to map urban heat islands within the massive urban heat island that is NYC. More concrete, more density and less tree coverage lead to more heat. Via Gothamist:

Working in pairs, the temperature mappers drove pre-planned routes through the city with white plastic temperature sensors hanging out of their cars’ passenger windows. The sensors fired off every second, capturing block-by-block differences in heat and humidity.

Some volunteers heard about the project through climate advocacy groups; others were roped in by family members. At least two were former cab drivers, putting their deep knowledge of the streets to use in a new way. All of them had firsthand experience of brutal New York City summers.

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