Climate Change in Dayton, Ohio: Identifying the Impacts and the Community's Understanding

Climate Change in Dayton, Ohio: Identifying the Impacts and the Community's Understanding

Presenter(s)

Emily E Skill

Description

This project examines the local impacts of climate change on the City of Dayton and analyzes what citizens from some of Dayton’s neighborhoods understand about climate change and sustainable behaviors. The purpose of this project is to connect threats of climate change in Dayton with sustainable actions that can be performed at home to reduce the effects of climate change. This project addresses the common misconception that climate change will only affect cities with elevations near sea level. While mainland cities, such as Dayton, are not at risk of flooding from rising sea levels, changes in precipitation and temperature can still pose great economic and social threats to these cities. Climate change will increase the amount of precipitation Ohio receives as well as flood frequency. The projected increased temperatures for Ohio will increase the likelihood of heat- rashes, heat-exhaustion, heatstroke, and even death. Increased temperatures from climate change will largely affect the poor, and in the City of Dayton, approximately 35% of population are living in poverty. Furthermore, the City of Dayton is identified as the largest food desert in the state. In addition to many of the problems climate change has on human health, temperature fluctuations and precipitation changes are also threats to agriculture, which will exacerbate food insecurities in Dayton. The survey portion of this project will identify knowledge gaps about climate change and its effects on the Dayton area as well as distinguish awareness of sustainable behaviors so that environmental education programs can be designed to address the needs of the community. This project was developed with the intention of being used as a starting point to help Dayton become a more sustainable city with sustainable citizens.

Publication Date

4-5-2017

Project Designation

Independent Research - Undergraduate

Primary Advisor

Robert J. Brecha

Primary Advisor's Department

Physics

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Climate Change in Dayton, Ohio: Identifying the Impacts and the Community's Understanding

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