Peter J. Crank, PhD

As an urban geographer and climatologist who received his PhD in Geography from Arizona State University (ASU), he studies urban climate and impacts of neighborhood scale urban design on microclimates and human health. His work has centered in hot cities, including Singapore and Phoenix as well as mid-sized cities of Southern Ontario. In Singapore, he worked with the Cooling Singapore 2.0 project with SEC-ETH and Singapore Management University. At ASU, Peter worked in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, the Urban Climate Research Center, the Design School, and the Health Urban Environments Initiative on various projects in the U.S. examining extreme heat and air quality impacts on the elderly, neighborhood planning and design, city park designs, and school renovations through field measurements, remotely sensed measurement via helicopter, and numerical modeling. Peter has a B.S. degree in broadcast meteorology (television) from Mississippi State University (MSU) before pursuing degrees in applied climate and geography at MSU (M.S.) and Ph.D. (ASU).

Peter’s research seeks to address questions of modelling urban spaces to understand the impact urban climate mitigation strategies have on the thermal environment as well as on all facets of human health (from physical heat stress to psychological disorders). His work has spanned across several U.S. cities in the Sunbelt, including Jackson (MS), Houston (TX), Phoenix (AZ), and Los Angeles (CA) in addition to work in Singapore. Recent Canadian work is funded by NSERC, CIHR, and Health Canada. His team focuses on the impacts of a changing climate for individuals and the local environment. Strong physical and applied climatology skills in addition to data analytics, computer science, and instrumentation are key to this group.

Peter also serves as the Vice-Chair of the American Meteorological Society Board on the Urban Environment and Chair of International Society of Biometeorology's Students and New Professionals Group.

• Urban Climate

• Urban overheating

• Urban environmental health

• Microclimate modeling

• Atmospheric Sciences

• Earth Systems

• Climate Science

• Geography

• 2021, Ph.D., Geography, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning , Arizona State University, USA

• 2016, M.S., Geosciences, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University

• 2013, B.S., Geosciences, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University

• 2025 Early Career Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

• 2025 Outstanding Performance Award, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo

• 2025 Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility, University of Graz

• 2024 Early Career Travel Grant, Columbia University

• 2020 Professional Development Award, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

• 2020 Graduate Writing Camp Scholarship, The Graduate College, Arizona State University

• 2020 Achievement & Appreciation of Service Award, Graduate and Professional Students Association, Arizona State University

• 2020 Graduate College Fellowship, The Graduate College, Arizona State University

• 2020 Graduate Student Service Award, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

• 2019 Student College Leader, The College, Arizona State University

• 2019 ASU United Nations Climate Change Delegate, The United Nations

• 2019 Grad Excellence Award, The College, Arizona State University

• 2019 Graduate College Fellowship, The Graduate College, Arizona State University

• 2019 Honorable Mention Research Poster, Institute of Social Science Research, Arizona State University

• 2019 Operations Comm. Member of the Year, Graduate and Professional Students Association, Arizona State University

• 2019 Research Poster Award, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

• 2019 Semi-Finalist, Fulbright

• 2019 Graduate College Fellowship, The Graduate College, Arizona State University

• 2018 Best Oral Presentation, International Association on Urban Climate and the American Meteorological Society

• 2016 Graduate Student Fellowship, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

• 2016 John F. Lounsbury Travel Fellowship, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University

• 2015 Charles L. Wax Endowed Scholarship, Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University

• ISB Regional Councilor 2026-2029

• ISB Student and New Professionals Group, Chair 2023-2026

• IAUC Early Career Researcher Committee 2024-2025

• AMS Board on the Urban Environment STAC Award 2025-current

• AMS Helmut E. Landsberg Award 2021-2024

• AMS Board on the Urban Environment, Vice-Chair 2021-current

• IAUC Bibliography Committee 2017-current

• AMS Board on the Urban Environment, Student member 2020-2021

• International Society of Biometeorology (ISB) 2018-current

• American Association of Geographers (AAG) 2018-2020

• American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2018-2019

• International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC) 2016-current

• American Meteorological Society (AMS) 2012-current

• CMOS-AMS BUE Congress, Scientific Program Co-chair 2025-2027

• 24th International Congress of Biometeorology Scientific Board 2025-2026

• AMS 106th Annual Meeting Program Chair 2025-2026

• ISB SNP Workshop Organizing Chair 2023-2025

• ICUC Virtual Poster Conference Planning Committee 2021-2022

• ICUC-11 Early Career Researcher Engagement Committee, Chair 2020-2023

• AVIA 374 - Special Topics in Aviation
  • Taught in 2026
• ENVS 278 - Applied Statistics for Environmental Research
  • Taught in 2023, 2024, 2025
• GEOG 314 - Climate Services
  • Taught in 2024, 2025, 2026
• GEOG 374 - Special Topics in Geography
  • Taught in 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Prinsloo, A.S., Gallacher, C., Adebayo, F.F., Adegebo, B., Arshad, A., Banerjee, S., Carr, E., Earnest, T.J., Holtz, C., Kganane, C., Marinaki, A.M., Mavudzi, C., Molefe, L.P., Motlogeloa, O., Muse, N., Ndiweni, A., Prado, L.B., Pryor, P.J., Roffe, S.J., Saed, M., Shehayeb, R., van der Walt, A.J., Waja, M., Allen, M.J., Fitchett, J.M., Crank, P.J., 2026. Recent trajectories of biometeorology in the Global South: a systematic review of biometeorology research in the International Journal of Biometeorology. Int J Biometeorol 70, 156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-026-03213-5

• Mandelmilch, Moshe; Yik, S.K.; Ho, B.; Crank, P.J.; Chow, W.T.L. Sensor Lag Adjustments on a Mobile Meteorological Cart in Tropical Environments: A Case Study of an Urban Park in Singapore. Environmental Research Communications. https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ade75e.

• Ching, G.N.Y.; Yik, S.K.; Heng, S.L.; Ho, B. H.; Crank, P.J.; Mandelmilch, M.; Ho, X.T.; Chow, W.T.L. Park cool island modifications to assess radiative cooling of a tropical urban park. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00207-y.

• Crank, P.J.; Balogun, I.A.; Banerjee, S.; Prinsloo, A.; Gallacher, C. Gaps and linkages between biometeorological research across the Global South: A call for new efforts to advance biometeorology in the Global South. International Journal of Biometeorology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02782-7.

• *Crank, P.J.; Olenick, C. C.; Baniassadi, A.; Sailor, D.J.; Wilhelmi, O. V.; Hayden, M. (2024). Socio-demographic determinants of extreme heat and ozone risk among older adults in three Sun Belt cities. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glae164.

• Crank, P. J.; Coseo, P. (2024) Cityscapes, Climate, and Mental Health: Designing cities for thermal wellbeing. Journal of Urban Design and Mental Health. 2024;9(1). https://doi:10.5281/ZENODO.12800033

• Crank, P.J.; Prinsloo, A.; Gallacher, C. (2024) A news update from the students and new professionals’ group of the International Society of Biometeorology. International Journal of Biometeorology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-024-02652-2.

• Banerjee, S.; Pek, R.X.Y.; Yik, S.K.; Ho, B.; Ching, G.N.Y.; Ho, X.T.; Heng, S.L.; Dzyuban, Y.; Crank, P.J.; Chow, W.T.L. (2024) Assessing impact of urban densification on outdoor microclimate using ENVI-met simulations for combined spatial-climatic options. Sustainable Cities and Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105302.

• Crank, P. J.; Middel, A.; Sailor, D. J.; Coseo, P (2023). Microclimate Impacts of Neighborhood Redesign in a Desert Community Using ENVI-met and MaRTy. Urban Climate. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2023.101702.

• Crank P.J., Hondula D.M., Sailor D.J. (2023) Mental health and air temperature: Attributable risk analysis for schizophrenia hospital admissions in arid urban climates. Science of The Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160599.

• Banerjee S., Ching, G.N.Y., Yik, S.K., Dzyuban, Y.; Crank, P.J.; Chow, W.T.L. (2022). Analysing impacts of urban morphological variables and density on outdoor microclimate for tropical cities: A review and a framework proposal for future research directions. Building and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109646.

• Dzyuban, Y.; Tan, A.; Ching, G.; Sin Kang, T; Banerjee, S.; Crank, P.J.; Chow, W.T.L. (2022). Sentiment Analysis of Weather-related Tweets in Hot Climates. Weather, Climate, and Society. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-21-0159.1.

• Dzyuban, Y., Ching, G. N. Y., Yik, S. K., Tan, A. J., Banerjee, S., Crank, P. J., & Chow, W. T. L. (2022). Outdoor thermal comfort research in transient conditions: A narrative literature review. Landscape and Urban Planning, 226, 104496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104496.

• O’Lenick, C. R.; Baniassadi, A.; Michael, R.; Monaghan, A.; Boehnert, J.; Yu, X.; Hayden, M.H.; Wiedinmyer, C.; Zhang, K.; Crank, P.J.; Heusinger, J.; Hoel, P.; Sailor, D.J.; Wilhelmi, O.V. (2020). A case-crossover analysis of indoor heat exposure on mortality and hospitalizations among the elderly in Houston, Texas. Environmental Health Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6340.

• Crank, P.J.; Middel, A.; Wagner, M.; Hoots, D.; Smith, M.; Brazel, A. (2020). Validation of Seasonal Mean Radiant Temperature Simulations in Hot Arid Tempe, Arizona. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141392.

• “Extreme heat is deadly and humidity can make it far worse. Here’s how a heat wave affects your body” – The Toronto Star
• “Another day of sun: Above-average November temperatures tell us about climate change” – Imprint magazine
• “Policy reform urged for seniors’ air conditioning access” – CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition (radio) “Policy reform urged for seniors’ air conditioning access” – Waterloo News
• “Solving the crisis: Rising urban temperatures” – Waterloo News
• “How trees saved 153 lives in London in eight years” – i News, Environment
• “Could warmer winters lead to less demand for road salt long-term?” – CBC Radio Windsor’s Morning Show
• “Posts mislead on solar farms' climate impact” – Agence France-Presse (AFP) Fact Check, Canada
• “As Earth's temperature rises, so do deaths among people with mental health problems” – CTV news, CP24
• “The climate crisis is already dangerous for people with mental health problems. It could get even worse.” – CNN Health
• “Heat-Related Illness” – Team Health Beyond Clinical Medicine podcast
• “Mental health and Climate Change” - Arizona PBS Horizon program
• “Schizophrenia pinpointed as a key factor in heat deaths” – Science
• “Caddo County, Oklahoma and Natural Disasters” – News OSU
• “Cooling Singapore 2.0: A step towards becoming a climate resilient and regenerative city”
• “How Hot and Humid Singapore Is Trying to Cool Itself Down”
• “Penyelidik SMU teroka cara lebih baik ukur haba bandar”
• “Is weather app accurate? SMU researchers eye better way to measure urban heat”
• “Let’s Talk About Heat” - City of Phoenix
• “ASU students represent Urban Climate Research Center at UN convention”
• “ASU meteorology-climatology students take their skills to the field during summer break”
• “Meteorologists predict El Nino for Arizona this winter.” Fox 10 Phoenix.
• “Researchers study Phoenix’s urban heat with hopes of cooler future”