Science Source
Trends in heat-related mortality in the United States, 1975-2004
- Addresses the long-term trends in heat-related mortality across 29 US metropolitan areas from 1975 to 2004 to discern the spatial patterns and temporal trends in heat vulnerability
- Standardizes mortality data to account for population trends, and seasonal and interannual variability
- Calculates mean anomalous mortality along with the likelihood that oppressive days led to a mortality response at least one standard deviation above the baseline value, on days when a city experienced an "oppressive" air mass
- Results show a general decline in heat-related mortality from the 1970s to 1990s, after which the decline seems to have abated
- Finds that the likelihood of oppressive days leading to significant increases in mortality has shown less of a decline
- Finds the number of oppressive days has stayed the same or increased at most metropolitan areas
- Concludes that with US homes near saturation in terms of air-conditioning availability, an aging population is still significantly vulnerable to heat events
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Headline

Apr 1, 2016 | Illinois State Climatologist Office, Illinois State Water Survey, U of I
The 1995 Heat Wave in Chicago