Climate and Health in the Southeast U.S.

Developed by the North Carolina Division of Public Health

*Information on the 2009 Climate-Health Workshop at NCDC:

http://www.sercc.com/ClimateHealthNCDC2009/

*Information on the 2011 Climate-Health Workshop at UNC-Chapel Hill:

http://www.sercc.com/NCClimateHealth/

Climate change describes a long-term pattern in climate measures, including temperature, precipitation (rain, snow, etc.), and other weather conditions caused by an imbalance of incoming and outgoing solar energy in the atmosphere. North Carolina is currently experiencing aspects of climate change that affect human health issues, such as prolonged heat-related illness.

Public health responds to climate impacts by preparing for and responding to weather effects on human health. Some examples of ongoing public health preparation and response to climactic events include hurricane preparedness, harmful algal bloom surveillance, and air quality alerts.

Climate change will bring new challenges in responding to these age-old public health issues. Therefore, a strategic plan is being developed to address health-related gaps and needs in North Carolina.

Climate Change Information for General Interest:

• Understanding “weather” vs. “climate”: http://www.eo.ucar.edu/basics/index.html
• What is global warming? http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/
• Pew Center on Global Climate Change: http://www.c2es.org/
• EPA Fact Sheets: What Climate Change Means for Your State https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts/state-impact-factsheets.html
• A Student’s Guide: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/students/index.html

Climate Change in the Southeast & North Carolina:

• US Global Change Program, Southeast: http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/southeast
• Climate Change in NC (Department of Environment and Natural Resources):http://wfs.enr.state.nc.us/pages/ClimateChange/CC_Adaptation.html

• NC State Climate Office: http://climate.ncsu.edu/edu/k12/.ClimateChange

Climate Change Information for Public Health Professionals:

• Climate Change & Public Health: http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/default.htm
• APHA’s Climate Change Guidebook: https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/climate-change
• A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (NIEHS): http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/a_human_health_perspective_on_climate_change_full_report_508.pdf
• World Health Organization- Climate Change http://www.who.int/topics/climate/en/
• Human Health Impacts (IPCC 2007): http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch8.html

Increased temperatures and heat stress:

• How are temperatures on earth changing? (IPCC 2007) http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/faq-3-1.html
• Southeast USA Temperature Map (1961-2099): http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/regions/southeast
• Hot weather tips: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp
• Protecting yourself from heat stress: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-114/pdfs/2010-114.pdf
• Extreme heat- what you should know: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/
• Heat stress link for public health professionals: http://www.cdc.gov/climatechange/effects/heat_related.htm
• NOAA-National Weather Service Resources:http://www.weather.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
• Preventing Heat Related Illness: http://www.heater-home.com/articles-preventing-heat-illness.aspx
• A Guide to Heat Safety: Heat Wave Dangers and More!: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emerge...

Sea level rise and coastal land loss:

• Is Sea Level Rising? (IPCC 2007) http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/faq-5-1.html
• Coastal Zones & Sea Level Rise: https://www.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-coastal-areas
• NC Sea Level Rise Risk Assessment: http://www.ncsealevelrise.com/
• NC Sea Level Rise: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/coastal-management-hot-topics/sea-level-rise
• Map of NC vulnerability to sea level rise/coastal land loss: https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr
• Coastal Adaptation:https://www.epa.gov/cre/coastal-adaptation-toolkit

General expectation for hurricanes and precipitation events:

• General link about expectation for hurricanes & precipitation events:http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2011/11/the-ipcc-report-on-extreme-climate-and-weather-events/

Hurricane preparedness:

• FEMA Ready America: http://www.ready.gov/
• Public Health Emergency: http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/Pages/default.aspx
• Hurricane Preparedness & Response: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
• Flood Preparedness & Response: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/
• Tornado Preparedness & Response: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/tornadoes/
• Hurricane information for healthcare professionals: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hcp.asp
• Weather related morbidity & mortality: http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm

Wildfire risk:

• General link about expectation for decreased soil moisture: Soil moisture, drought, runoff & river discharge (IPCC 2007):http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch3s3-3-4.html

• Wildfire Preparedness & Response: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/
• Public health impacts: Human Health Impacts of Forest Fires in the Southern United States: A Literature Review: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/jea/vol7/iss1/3/

Water scarcity:

• NC Drought Information: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/climate/drought
• NC Drought Advisory: http://www.ncdrought.org/
• NC Drought Watch: http://nc.water.usgs.gov/drought/
• Drought planning: https://www.drought.gov/drought/resources/planning-preparedness
• SaveWaterNC: http://www.savewaternc.org/
• Protecting the Public Health During Drought Conditions: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/publications/Drought.htm
• Salt water intrusion: http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/gwrp/saltwater/salt.html

Air quality issues:

• Climate Change & Air Quality: https://www.epa.gov/air-trends
• Asthma, Respiratory Allergies and Airway Diseases: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/asthma/OccAsthmaPrevention.html
• Daily NC Air Quality Forecast: https://xapps.ncdenr.org/aq/ForecastCenter
• NC Air Awareness Project: http://daq.state.nc.us/airaware/
• Air Quality Data: http://ephtracking.cdc.gov/showLocationLanding.action
• World Health Organization- Air Pollution: http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/
• Air Pollution & Respiratory Health: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/

Infectious disease:

• Vector-borne and infectious diseases (IPCC 2007): http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch8s8-2-8.html
• World Health Organization, Climate Change & Infectious Disease: http://www.who.int/globalchange/environment/en/chapter6.pdf
• Assessment and surveillance after a disaster: http://www.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance/
• Public health preparedness during infectious disease outbreaks: Case study: Haiti 2010 Cholera Outbreak: http://www.cdc.gov/haiticholera/
• Global Climate Change & Infectious Diseases, New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp0912931
• NC Mosquito-borne diseases: http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/diseases/arbo.html

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2007 Reports:

• "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability": http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/contents.html
• Model Projections: https://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/spmsspm-projections-of.html

Other Links: Climate Change, Health, and National Security

• CIA Opens Center on Climate Change & National Security: https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/center-on-climate-change-and-national-security.html
• National Security Implications of Global Climate Change: http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/diseases/arbo.html