We are excited to share that the City of Grand Junction was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to participate in their initiative to map urban heat islands (UHI). We are working with NOAA and CAPA Strategies to conduct the mapping event over a period of one day this summer.

The data collection will be performed by volunteer community scientists. That’s why we need YOUR help!

We are looking for volunteers to help us with this event. We ask that you reach out to your network and share this volunteer opportunity. We have attached a poster that you can use in your outreach. We are expecting to have 50 volunteer shifts to fill. One volunteer can participate in up to three shifts! If more volunteers sign up than are needed to fill the spots, we will give preference to those who can work multiple shifts on the event day. We will keep a list of back-up volunteers in case the date changes or volunteers drop out. 

The mapping day is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, with July 27 and August 3 as backup dates. Since we are estimating the hottest time of the summer, the mapping day may change if there is too much wind, cloud cover, or precipitation forecasted on the anticipated date.

Sign up to volunteer here! (Español)

Learn more about the UHI mapping project here! 

We are looking for owners of electric vehicles (EVs) to volunteer as Drivers. If you or someone you know has an EV, please consider signing up to volunteer! 

Information for volunteers: 

Volunteers can sign up to either be a Driver or Navigator. There is no minimum age for the Navigator. There will be three shifts during the day when volunteers will drive pre-determined routes around Grand Junction with the sensors attached to their car windows. Each shift requires two volunteers, and we are expecting to map ten different routes per shift. Volunteers are encouraged to participate in more than one shift! All volunteers will be required to attend one training session on July 9 or July 10 at 5:30 pm where logistics and equipment will be explained in further detail, and you will be required to sign a waiver.

We hope you can join us for a successful community event that will result in a comprehensive report of Grand Junction’s heat island effects. Thank you for being a part of this initiative!