Emergent Ecologies
IMPERIAL VALLEY
Credits: Erika Larkins
The Imperial Valley is a rural, desert region located 120 miles east of the cooler coastal region of San Diego. Residents of the hottest county in California can experience over 175 days annually with temperatures over 90º F, average summer temperatures of 104–105º F, and record highs reaching close to 120º F. Imperial Valley County borders Mexico, and an estimated 85% of residents are Hispanic or Latino, with 22% of the population living below the poverty line.
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Outdoor workers are highly susceptible to dehydration and excessive heat exposure. Job insecurity or precarious employment and limited or hard-to-enforce federal and state protections restrict workers’ abilities to lower their own body temperature through shade, water breaks, or shifting their work hours. Approximately 1 in 6 jobs in the region are in the agricultural industry. Construction and agricultural work also often takes place outside year-round, exposing workers to occupational heat stress. Thousands of outdoor workers in this region harvest crops, pack onions, put on roofs, install solar panels, and build houses. The risk of heat-related mortalities is real.
Transportation is another major site of heat exposure, as bus stops are often without shade and are far apart, requiring long walks in the sun. Other modes of transportation, like motorcycles, do not necessarily reduce sun exposure. Even private cars can overheat – forcing drivers to limit their use of air conditioning.
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Public parks often lack shade, meaning there are few places to socialize, or for kids to play, out of the sun. Unhoused people are the most vulnerable to heat illness. Social and racial inequality runs through all of these forms of heat exposure, determining the kinds of jobs people have, the amount of control they have over the ways they work, the forms of transportation they have access to, and their ability to cool down at home or in leisure spaces.
It is common for people living in the Imperial Valley to describe the extreme climate as hot, humid, exhausting, uninhabitable, and unbearable. The photo essays above portray this lived reality. The first, by Raul Ayala-Brooks, consists of four images showing how workers—especially farmworkers—confront the daily, devastating effects of extreme heat. During the summer, intense heat creates serious health risks, particularly for agricultural laborers and heavy-machinery operators such as tractor drivers and pesticide applicators. These occupations require prolonged exposure to the sun, and many workers suffer from heat exhaustion, which can manifest as weakness, nausea, and even fainting. With temperatures reaching 120°F (approximately 49°C), labor becomes an exhausting and dangerous task, made worse by the lack of shaded areas in the fields.
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The second essay, by Klarissa Martinez, composed of five photographs, addresses the impacts of extreme heat on mental health. High temperatures in the Imperial Valley affect not only the body but also the mind. Individuals who experience heat stroke or heat-related cardiac events may develop anxiety, fear of going outdoors, and, consequently, vitamin D deficiency due to reduced sun exposure. Extreme heat also contributes to mental confusion, a factor associated with increased traffic accidents in the region. It is important to highlight that people experiencing homelessness—already vulnerable to mental-health challenges—become even more susceptible during periods of intense heat.
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The third essay, by Evelyn Suarez, composed of six photographs, portrays the disruption of everyday life, which is profoundly altered during the summer as extreme temperatures affect the functioning of essential activities. With thermometers reaching 120°F, air-conditioning systems frequently fail in homes, vehicles, and workplaces, including hospitals. This recurring problem amplifies discomfort and insecurity for residents. Heat also reshapes basic routines, such as clothing choices and outdoor activities, requiring constant adaptation to a hostile environment.
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The fourth essay, composed of three photographs by Eric, explores how Imperial Valley residents relate to sunscreen use—essential for those working outdoors and protecting the skin from sunburn. Prolonged sun exposure influences clothing choices, leading many to wear garments that cover as much skin as possible. Yet the need for protection brings new challenges: excessive sunscreen use can interfere with vitamin D absorption, a nutrient that depends on sun exposure. On the other hand, the absence of sunscreen increases the risk of recurrent sunburn.
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The fifth essay, by Emily Figueroa, composed of six photographs, portrays mobility under extreme heat in the Imperial Valley. High temperatures make walking during the day difficult, rendering automobile transportation essential to avoid prolonged sun exposure. However, not everyone has easy access to this form of transport, which deepens regional inequalities. Walking for more than 20 minutes in temperatures above 120°F is practically unfeasible and dangerous. Even for those with vehicles, heat poses challenges, as cars tend to overheat on extremely hot days due to intensive air-conditioning use.
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The final ten visuals were taken by Erika Larkins.
