URBAN HEAT ISLANDS

Why in news: Recently prior to the COP28 The Emission Gap Report was published, where Urban heat islands is one of the major reasons behind health issues in urban areas.

What is urban heat islands

It’s a localised and temporary phenomenon that occurs when particular parts of a city receive more heat than the rest of the city on the same day. The differences are primarily due to heat being trapped within environments that resemble concrete jungles. The temperature variation can range between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Causes of Urban Heat Island:

• Carbon-absorbing materials like asphalt and concrete in city construction trap heat, elevating surface temperatures.
• Dark surfaces on many urban structures lower albedo, increasing heat absorption.
• Tall buildings and narrow streets impede air circulation, reducing wind speed, known as the Urban Canyon Effect.
• Fossil fuel usage contributes to heat.
• Decreased tree cover and green spaces intensify the effect.

Reducing Urban Heat Islands:

• Expand green cover areas.
• Use white or light-coloured paints on roofs to reflect heat.
• Promote kitchen gardening and vegetation on rooftops to mitigate heat absorption.