Integrated Models For Heat-Health Decision Making

Linking Complex Science to Policy for Heat-Health Decision Making

workshop
Oct. 24 to Oct. 25, 2013

8:00 am – 5:00 pm MDT

Toronto, Canada
Main content
About

The System for Integrated Modeling of Metropolitan Extreme Heat Risk (SIMMER) is a NASA-funded study led by NCAR that integrates spatial information about extreme heat vulnerability and climate adaptation planning. SIMMER integrates information about current and future exposure to heat based on local and regional climate modeling; the impact of land use and building characteristics on heat exposure; social and physical factors that affect population vulnerability to heat; and the relationship between heat exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and heat-health impacts.

A two-day SIMMER Toronto workshop, co-organized by Toronto Public Health, Health Canada, Ryerson University, and NCAR, was held at Health Canada in Toronto on October 24-25, 2013. Workshop participants from the U.S. and Canada explored how the SIMMER study could inform local extreme heat preparedness and climate change adaptation in Toronto. The workshop featured seven sessions including multidisciplinary presentations, case study discussions and a breakout discussion. Participants in the SIMMER workshop discussed the efforts of Canadian and American research organizations and government agencies that conduct heat health research. Each session featured different aspects of heat-related vulnerability including the user perspective on decision making to prevent heat-health impacts, explanation of the complex models used in the SIMMER project, explanation of other models used by Canadian researchers and most importantly, discussion of how the SIMMER model can be integrated into the existing Canadian research and be applied to cities such as Toronto.

Click here to download the Workshop Report

Direct questions to: 

  • Stephanie Gower, Toronto Public Health 
  • Abderrahmane Yagouti, Health Canada
  • Olga Wilhelmi, National Center for Atmospheric Research

Related Links:

Contacts

Direct questions to: Mary Hayden or Olga Wilhelmi

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