What does this research mean for the field?

Idling gasoline-powered vehicles significantly increase nearby ambient air temperature and wet bulb globe temperature, contributing an additional 0.006°C per minute to the local microclimate. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate how vehicular waste heat from idling gasoline-powered vehicles affects microclimate conditions and near-body heat exposure at distances of 1.5 to 3.0 meters.

August 28, 2026PLOS ClimateOpen Access

A pilot study exploring the effect of vehicular waste heat on personal heat exposure in a semi-arid environment

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Authors

AAAshley AvilaUniversity of Arizona NINicole Iroz-ElardoWillamette University KCKristina CurransUniversity of Arizona

Discussion

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Implication

Experimental study reveals idling vehicles elevate ambient and wet bulb globe temperatures in nearby microclimates, indicating increased heat exposure risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

Key Points

To evaluate how vehicular waste heat from idling gasoline-powered vehicles affects microclimate conditions and near-body heat exposure at distances of 1.5 to 3.0 meters.
Conducted an experimental pilot study in a covered parking garage to isolate vehicular waste heat by minimizing radiant solar heat and wind effects.
Positioned Kestrel 5400 devices 1.5–3.0 meters away from a fleet of six identical idling gasoline-powered vehicles to record ambient air temperature (TA), wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), and wind velocity.
Estimated temperature change per minute during idling and non-idling periods using ordinary least-mean square (OLS) modeling.
Vehicle presence demonstrated a strong positive correlation with increases in both ambient air temperature and wet bulb globe temperature relative to non-idling control periods.
Ordinary least-mean square modeling showed idling vehicles added 0.006°C per minute to the ambient air temperature rate of increase, representing a 25% increase over the expected background warming rate of 0.024°C per minute.

Cite This Study

Avila et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a91467bd15324a1df3aa1e2 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000824

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Implication

Experimental study reveals idling vehicles elevate ambient and wet bulb globe temperatures in nearby microclimates, indicating increased heat exposure risks for pedestrians and cyclists.

A pilot study exploring the effect of vehicular waste heat on personal heat exposure in a semi-arid environment

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

A pilot study exploring the effect of vehicular waste heat on personal heat exposure in a semi-arid environment

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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Also Consider