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Climate change is one of humanity’s most pressing issues, causing extreme weather events like flooding and heat waves that claim thousands of lives every year. However, heat waves have also become an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years, impacting over half a billion children, according to a report from UNICEF. In response to this threat, Google is launching a new “extreme heat alerts” feature on its search engine that aims to provide users with accurate and timely information on how to stay safe during intense heat waves.
Google’s extreme heat alerts will warn people when the local temperature reaches a certain threshold and will appear at the top of the search results page for relevant queries. Additionally, the feature will provide helpful tips on how to stay cool during extreme heat, including information on medical issues to be aware of and how to mitigate their effects. Google has also partnered with the Global Heat Health Information Network to ensure that the information it provides in its heat wave alerts is accurate and up-to-date.
“We’ll be launching a new feature to raise awareness about extreme heat to keep people safe, cool and healthy. Soon, you will see dedicated features highlighting relevant news, recommended actions and local information during a severe heat wave. The new heat alert is one of the many ways we’re continuing to update search to help people find timely, authoritative and actionable information when they need it the most,” said Hema Budaraju, Google’s senior director of product for health and search.
Google’s Expansion of Tree Canopy
Besides the extreme heat alerts, Google has also announced the expansion of its Tree Canopy tool to over 350 cities worldwide. Available in the Environmental Insights Explorer app, the tool uses AI and aerial imagery to enable cities to understand their current tree coverage and plan for urban forestry initiatives. Furthermore, Google has created a new tool that leverages AI to plan the installation of “cool roofs.” These roofs reflect heat from the sun, reducing temperatures in urban areas and mitigating the urban heat island effect during heatwaves.
For several years, Google has played a crucial role in providing timely alerts for natural disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and now heatwaves. Google’s innovative online tools are essential to creating more sustainable and resilient communities worldwide.
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