You can search for courses, events, people, and anything else.
It鈥檚 not your imagination: Summers in Western Sydney are getting hotter. And climate change is only part of the problem, according to urban heat expert Dr Sebastian Pfautsch, a Senior Research Fellow at Western.
鈥淯rbanisation itself increases the temperature in cities,鈥 he says. 鈥淲hen you replace paddocks and bushland with roads and buildings, you lose those open, pervious surfaces that take up rainwater, evaporate it and generate a cooling effect.鈥
In his most recent research, Dr Pfautsch has been measuring microclimates throughout the region, installing 360 heat sensors in Parramatta, Cumberland and Campbelltown. And he鈥檚 been surprised by the results. 鈥淒uring a heatwave, temperatures across Parramatta can vary by 8掳C to 10掳C.鈥
Dr Pfautsch hopes government bodies will use this information to combat hot-spots and better allocate emergency services. But, he warns, there鈥檚 only so much those in charge can do. 鈥淧rivate citizens need to help improve the heat resilience of their suburbs; about 80 per cent of the land is privately owned and that鈥檚 where we can get massive change.鈥
Where to start? Plant a tree 鈥 and water it regularly.
鈥淓vapotranspiration from trees is actually the best air conditioning system we have for urban spaces; you just have to provide sufficient water to make it work.鈥 Also consider a water feature and, when renovating, be meticulous about the materials and colours you choose (fake lawns and black roofing is asking for trouble).
Earlier this year, Dr Pfautsch鈥檚 research made headlines when he revealed common playground surfaces, including AstroTurf and soft-fall rubber, can heat up to more than 100掳C on a summer鈥檚 day. 鈥淭he injuries from these materials are horrific,鈥 he says. 鈥淲e have reports of toddlers with second-degree burns on their feet.鈥
While industry change has been slow, the work generated interest from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, which has challenged Dr Pfautsch to turn a typical high school in Parramatta, built in the 1970s, into a 鈥渃ool school鈥. His plans range from the simple (planting trees and installing awnings) to the elaborate (replacing a bitumen roof with a school garden).
鈥淚n two years, when the work has been done, we can assess what effect it鈥檚 had on air temperature and quality,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hen we can grow that into state-wide 鈥 maybe even national 鈥 design guidelines.鈥
WORDS BY EMMA MULHOLLAND
