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Heat Mitigation Project Commencing in Portsmouth
Seeking volunteers to help collect environmental data about hottest spots in city
University News | June 20, 2024
Virginia Wesleyan University, the Center for Sustainable Communities, and the Elizabeth River Project are seeking volunteers to help collect environmental data about the hottest and coolest places in Portsmouth, VA during an upcoming heat event this summer. Data collected by volunteers during the joint one-day heat mapping campaign will be used to develop temperature and heat index maps of Portsmouth (see Virginia Beach example) and help address heat-related vulnerabilities across the region. 
What will volunteers do? Volunteers are needed to drive along predetermined routes in the Portsmouth area over three separate one-hour periods during a hot day. Volunteers will use a simple data-collection device attached to the vehicle. You can also volunteer as a navigator and help direct drivers’ turns along their route. If you’re only available for one of the routes that’s fine as well.
Are there any requirements to volunteer? Drivers will need a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and access to a vehicle. In addition to the three hours of data collection, volunteers will first be asked to attend a one-hour Volunteer Training Session (Tuesday, July 9th 6 PM; in person or virtual with a makeup option), complete a short knowledge quiz, and sign a liability waiver. Based on previous campaigns, volunteers will spend a total of about 3 to 6 hours, though the majority of time will occur on the selected campaign day.
On what day will the heat mapping campaign occur? That will depend on the weather forecast. Heat mapping is best done on a hot temperature and clear-skied day. Using historical weather patterns, and support from the National Weather Service, the target campaign date for Portsmouth is July 13th with a back-up date of July 14th or 15th. While weather does change, this selected campaign date will be confirmed about one week prior, as forecasts become more reliable.
“Because we must wait for the heat—and the fact that summer is such a busy time—we need to assemble an “on-call” roster of volunteers -- which means that we’ll want more people signing up than we need,” says Dr. Elizabeth Malcolm, VWU Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Director of Sustainability. “We will confirm your participation about one week prior to the campaign once we finalize the date.”
If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, or would like to learn more, please respond to this Volunteer Interest Form and visit our project webpage. To learn more about the CAPA Heat Watch program, check out www.capastrategies.com/heat-watch For specific questions, please contact Faith Bush and Elizabeth Malcolm at sustainability@vwu.edu.
VWU would like to acknowledge the U.S. Forest Service and the Virginia Department of Forestry for funding this vital project with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) UCF.