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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.

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