We have deployed two sets of instruments to our field sites at Westmorland, Imperial Valley in coordination with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) office at Holtville, CA. Each station has a black-globe sensor, relative humidity and temperature sensor, and pyranometer. Together, these measurement will be used to calculate Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a key indicator of heat stress on humans.

Installation of heat stress sensors at Westmorland, Imperial Valley.

We have also installed one station at an urban site in El Centro, Imperial Valley in cooperation with the Air Pollution Control District (APCD), El Centro office. The station is located on the roof of the APCD building.

Station at APCD, El Centro building.

Working for ~4 hour in the sun for the instrument installation in this early May was not easy. Imagine farmworkers working in the field everyday regardless of heat, wind, or dust.

Foods do not come to our table so easily. They do not grow in the grocery stores either. A lot of sweat, hardwork, and endurance involved. We must treat farmworkers and the soil with respect if we want quality food on our table.

PS: We are grateful to our collegues at UCCE, Hotville and APCD, El Centro for facilitating installation of our instruments in their sites.