Urban heat islands escalate summer discomfort
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Environment
- Published
11th May, 2022
-
Context
April 2022 was not the hottest April on record in the country. April also brought to light a phenomenon experts often talk about—the ‘urban heat island’.
What is an urban heat island?
- An urban heat island, or UHI, is a metropolitan area that's a lot warmer than the rural areas surrounding it.
- Heat is created by energy from all the people, cars, buses, and trains in big cities.
- There are many reasons for UHIs.
- When houses, shops, and industrial buildings are constructed close together, it can create a UHI.
- Building materials are usually very good at insulating, or holding in heat.
- This insulation makes the areas around buildings warmer.
