Heat Risk Perception Gap
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Provided by: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication|Published on: July 10, 2026
Data, Graphs, and MapsScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This interactive map shows the gap between assessed extreme-heat health risk and how worried residents are about heat across counties in the contiguous United States.
- Students can also see a scatter plot of heat risk vs. heat worry that sorts counties into four categories, including danger zones where health risk is high but public worry is low, and lets students explore any county and see where concern and vulnerability align or diverge.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography, Mathematics, Health
Authors: Jennifer Marlon
Region: United States
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Classroom Implementation:
- As a class or in smaller groups, discuss whether it is more dangerous to have higher risk or a higher gap in risk-worry.
- Search for local counties and interpret assessed risk, estimated worry, and gap category, then write an evidence-based claim about local heat preparedness.
- Prompt students to propose targeted outreach for danger-zone counties, connecting data interpretation to real-world risk communication and public health planning.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
- Statistics:
- Use the tool to discuss how survey data is turned into county-level estimates and the difference between what experts assess and what the public perceives.
- Conduct the survey again within the school community and compare how your school's perceptions differ from your county's.
- A downloadable dataset is available behind a short registration form, supporting extension projects that analyze the underlying numbers.
Related Resources:
- Use this resource about heat waves to introduce students to impacts of climate change on extreme heat.
- Dive deeper into heat vulnerability with this interactive data resource that shows key index indicators.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts scientific research on public opinion and behavior. They also engage the public in climate change science and solutions, in partnerships with governments, media, companies, and civil society.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
