What are Urban Heat Islands?
Climate Issue: Urban Heat Islands
An Urban Heat Island is the name given to describe the characteristic warmth of both the atmosphere and surfaces in cities (urban areas) compared to their (non-urbanized) surroundings. The heat island is an example of unintentional climate modification when urbanization changes the characteristics of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
I got this definition from: http://www.actionbioscience.org/enviroment/voogt.html
Picture Showing Urban Heat Island Effect
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| This picture came from: http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content06/heat-island.jpg |
Thermal Satellite Picture
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| We got these pictures from: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/essd21jul98_1.htm | These thermal pictures show Salt Lake City (left) compared to a more rural area (right) The red areas are hot and the blue areas are cooler. |
How This Hurts People
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Higher daytime temperatures & slower nighttime cooling
Can affect human health by making people miserable, causing respiratory difficulties, heat cramps and exhaustion, non-fatal heat stroke, and heat-related deaths.
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Heat islands can make heat waves last longer
Children, older adults and those with existing health problems suffer most.
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Storm water runoff
increases water pollution, and possible property damage and loss of life due to flooding