As temperatures rise across the Virgin Islands, researchers at the University of the Virgin Islands’ Caribbean Green Technology Center (CGTC) are working to better understand—and help communities adapt to—the impacts of extreme heat.
This summer, CGTC launched several projects to collect vital temperature and climate data across the Territory. As part of the Spectrum X research program, UVI students Brenique Dawson, Benaiah Francis, Gavin Douglas, and Kaj Gerard, spent weeks on St. Thomas and St. Croix conducting walking heat surveys. They gathered continuous temperature, humidity, and UV readings while assessing how residential buildings and stormwater infrastructure handle heat and heavy rainfall.
At the same time, CGTC has deployed dozens of small temperature monitors in homes, schools, and clinics on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. These sensors track how indoor temperatures fluctuate throughout the day in spaces without air conditioning—places where many Virgin Islanders spend their daily lives.
In addition, CGTC is working with Albany University to expand the Territory’s weather monitoring network by building new weather stations on St. Thomas and St. Croix. These stations will strengthen local weather tracking and support more accurate forecasting models for the Virgin Islands.
CGTC will share these important findings at the Heat Summit 2025 on Friday, September 26, from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the UVI LaVerne E. Ragster Administration and Conference Center on St. Thomas. The event will bring together experts, policymakers, and the public to learn how heat is affecting the Territory and what actions everyone can take to reduce its impact.
For more information, email cgtc@uvi.edu or call (340) 693-1158.