Title: Spatial assessment of heat extremes with a risk-based approach for the districts of Ankara, the capital of Türkiye

Authors: Sevilcan Basak Unal; Cavit Isık Yavuz

Addresses: Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye ' Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye

Abstract: Extreme heat is a public health threat for cities. This study presents spatial assessment of the vulnerability, exposure, hazard, and the overall risk of heat extremes across the districts of Ankara, Türkiye, by using remote sensing and secondary data. Results showed that the northern districts of the city exhibited the lowest hazard levels, while exposure was highest in the metropolitan core, and vulnerability was greater in peripheral areas. One urban and two rural districts experienced the highest risk with different underlying characteristics, highlighting the need for addressing multiple dimensions of the risk management for public health actions.

Keywords: heat stress; extreme heat; risk; vulnerability; spatial assessment; Türkiye.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2026.155853

International Journal of Global Warming, 2026 Vol.39 No.4, pp.353 - 370

Received: 25 Sep 2025
Accepted: 06 Feb 2026
Published online: 24 Aug 2026 *

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