Heat Chords:
Strains of Stress

Hot temperatures affect our mood, well-being, and health, even increasing mortality. Older individuals are particularly at risk during heat waves. We studied the impact of heat days (over 30°C) on weekly mortality rates in Austrian districts from 2019 to 2024, finding a 2.4% increase in mortality per heat day per 1000 inhabitants. This effect increases by 50% in districts where 25% of the population is over 65. While only 15% of districts had such a large elderly population in 2023, this will rise to 80% by 2050.

This project translates the findings of the Heat, Health, and Habitat research —accompanied by an earlier visualization project—into sound through the art of sonification. It brings to life the impact of rising temperatures on the mortality of Austria’s aging population, with heat stress and vulnerability felt through shifting chords. The soundscape uses changing harmonies to reflect the fluctuating effects of heat on health, emphasizing the urgent need for action and creating an immersive experience that deepens our understanding of climate-related risks.

Heat stress index

Residential tree coverage

Chords

Preprint for the research

Hannah Schuster, Axel Polleres, Amin Anjomshoaa, Johannes Wachs. Heat, Health, and Habitats: Analyzing the Intersecting Risks of Climate and Demographic Shifts in Austrian Districts, 1 May 2024, arXiv:2405.00540