Underground climate change: How heat is trapped under the surface, threatening buildings

Climate Signal: Climate change is leading to warmer nights, shorter cool seasons, and longer-lasting, more intense heat waves that are becoming more common. Check out our heat wave page for more information.

Article Excerpt: 

CHICAGO — On a recent tour underneath Chicago’s iconic skyline, Alessandro Rotta Loria, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern University, pointed out one of the sensors he and his team have installed across the city to track underground temperatures. 

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According to his research, air temperatures in underground human-made structures can be up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) higher than “undisturbed” ground temperature. It’s a threat distinct from global warming but one that comes with similar threats of wreaking havoc on public health and crucial infrastructure.

“There’s already a significant amount of heat beneath our feet,” Rotta Loria said. “And this heat has caused the ground to deform already.”

Full Story: NBC News