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ShadeMap

A new lens on heat and where shade is needed most

Mapping Shade with UCLA

Shade is one of the simplest—and most powerful—tools we have to keep people safe in a hotter Los Angeles. But until now, it’s been hard to answer a basic question: Where is the shade?

Thanks to new research led by Dr. Kelly Turner at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, in partnership with American Forests, shade is finally visible—and mappable—across hundreds of cities, including LA.

Explore the Map

Explore the Shade Map

UCLA’s high-resolution data is integrated into American Forests’ Tree Equity Score National Explorer.

Access the How-To Guide

  • 01

    See how much shade is available

    At three times of day (noon, 3pm and 6pm)  in every Census block group

  • 02

    Understand what’s casting the shade

    Trees, buildings, or both

  • 03

    Layer in social and environmental data

    Such as income, demographics, canopy cover, and heat exposure

  • 04

    Identify shade deserts

    And prioritize areas where investment is most needed

Quick Facts

Average shade in LA

A bar graph showing there's 21% shade coverage at noon, 29% shade coverage at 3pm, and 61% of shade coverage at 6pm in LA.
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation. (2025). Average shade in urbanized Los Angeles County. American Forests Tree Equity Score.
  • 01

    21% shade coverage at noon

    This is 6% lower than the national average (27%).

  • 02

    Shade doubles by 6pm

    In the evening, average shade more than doubles to 61% and is 2% higher than the national average (59%).

  • 03

    Vegetation provides 99% of shade at noon

    But in comparison, buildings account for 55% of shade at 6 PM, indicating a shift in dominant shading sources over the course of the day.