Beyond the Thermometer: Uncovering the Hidden Air Quality Crises Inside Global Heatstorms

Abstract

As extreme weather accelerates globally, the Reuters Climate Monitor tracks heatstorms—mapping anomalous temperatures as they sweep across continents and detailing the fundamental ways prolonged heat is reshaping human lives on the ground. Yet, the most profound impacts of extreme heat are often invisible on a standard temperature map. Among these is ground-level ozone, a toxic pollutant baked into existence when extreme heat reacts with everyday air pollution.

Moving beyond standard environmental datasets, the talk explores the essential role of academic consultation—from atmospheric chemists to spatial data scientists—in translating intricate pollutant chemical pathways into clear, rigorous, data-driven journalism. Nandhini Srinivasan will share how bridging the gap between peer-reviewed academic modelling and newsroom data visualization helped uncover the invisible compound risks facing vulnerable populations during extreme thermal events, offering a playbook for collaborative, science-led investigative reporting.

Places are limited and so any academic colleagues or students interested in attending in person must register here for a place.