Urban Heat Islands: A look at why cities are usually warmer than rural areas
The sun’s heat and light reach urban and rural areas in the same way but the difference in temperature is mainly because of the surfaces in each environment and how they absorb and hold heat
The official Twitter handle of the NASA JPL (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory) recently shared an image highlighting the massive temperature difference between Delhi and nearby areas—a phenomenon called urban heat island (UHI) effect. It’s pertinent in the wake of the ongoing heatwave that saw Delhi record a punishing 49 Celsius degree on May 15, its hottest day of summer so far. A look at why cities are usually warmer than rural areas and what can city dwellers do about it (Image: News18 Creative)
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This data suggests that city dwellers are experiencing considerably higher temperatures than the average temperatures reported for their regions. (Image: News18 Creative)
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An Urban Heat Island occurs when a city witnesses much higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas. (Image: News18 Creative)
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The sun’s heat and light reach urban and rural areas in the same way. The difference in temperature is mainly because of the surfaces in each environment and how well they absorb and hold heat. (Image: News18 Creative)
A look at why this happens. (Image: News18 Creative)
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Urban building materials are an important reason that these areas trap heat. Most modern buildings are made up of materials such as cement, asphalt, brick, glass, steel, etc, which have impervious surfaces. (Image: News18 Creative)
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Besides the incoming radiation, the heat released by many human activities also contributes to the urban heat effect. Motor vehicles, factories and even household appliances release heat into the environment and cause a spike in local temperature. (Image: News18 Creative)
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Consistent exposure to higher temperatures can cause people to become dehydrated or suffer from heat exhaustion. (Image: News18 Creative)
