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NASA map shows temperatures of up to 160 degrees on streets and sidewalks in Phoenix
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NASA map shows temperatures of up to 160 degrees on streets and sidewalks in Phoenix

Asphalt absorbs a lot of heat from the sun. And new thermal infrared images from NASA show just how hot Phoenix streets can get on days with triple-digit temperatures.

NASA used a thermal radiometer on the International Space Station to capture surface temperatures in downtown Phoenix. A new map shows the city’s streets color-coded to illustrate temperatures.

The data was recorded on June 19, when the daily high temperature was 106 degrees, but the map shows that asphalt across the city that day was between 120 and 160 degrees.

Such high surface temperatures can cause severe contact burns in a matter of minutes or seconds. The Arizona Burn Center – Valleywise Health reports that it has seen a dramatic increase in these types of injuries in recent years. Among the 136 patients treated for these burns last year, the average hospital stay was 12 days. About 10% of those patients died as a result of their injuries, the hospital reports.

NASA data shows that vegetation can make a big difference in surface temperatures. Streets around Encanto Park and other large green spaces in central Phoenix were the coolest areas on the new map, while neighborhoods with less green space, such as Maryvale and the area around Sky Harbor Airport, were the hottest.

KJZZ

This story was produced by KJZZ, the public radio station in Phoenix, Arizona.

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