Heat stress is the general strain on both humans and the environment caused by prolonged high temperatures. Heat stress can impair physical and mental performance – especially in non-air-conditioned rooms or when working outdoors. Heat can also damage materials (e.g., through deformation) and leading to impairment of production means and infrastructure. In addition, increased heat stress can pose serious risks to human health. The effects of heat stress are particularly expected to intensify in urban areas.
The risk assessment of our analysis is based on a heat stress index we specifically developed. This refers to the duration of heat waves, which pose a particular risk due to persistently high temperatures both during the day and at night.