PHILADELPHIA - Nearly a dozen teams drove around different neighborhoods of Philadelphia on Saturday. They weren't in a race.
They were driving for science. That's because each of their vehicles was grabbing real-time weather information.One sensor, clipped onto the passenger side window, measured temperature and humidity.
The other sensor measured air quality.As soon as the drivers paired the devices to a GPS app, they set out on their 10-square mile section of Philadelphia to map.These teams hit the road three times on Saturday: at sunrise, in the afternoon as we got our high temperature for the day, and close to sunset.It was all part of a one-day study on how temperature changes throughout the day in areas of the city more prone to holding heat.
There are neighborhoods like Hunting Park where many blocks lack trees and natural shade. Instead, it's lots of concrete and pavement, which really hold onto heat.