heat islands
Cities trap warmth
Heat islands are urban areas that run significantly hotter than surrounding rural land.
Buildings, pavement, and concrete absorb and retain heat while blocking natural cooling from vegetation and airflow.
The effect is most pronounced at night, when cities radiate stored heat: Downtown can be ten degrees warmer than the suburbs.
Also called urban heat islands.
Petroleum-based paving material
- concreteSolid building mixture
- impervious surfacesAreas blocking water infiltration
- buildingsConstructed enclosed structures
- rooftopsUpper surfaces of buildings
parking lots · pavement · skyscrapers · high-rises · density · sprawl · cityscape · infrastructure
Plant-covered building tops
- cool roofsSun-deflecting roof surfaces
- tree canopyUpper forest layer
- rain gardensPlanted basins absorbing runoff
- shade structuresBuilt covers blocking sunlight
white roofs · albedo · parks · urban planning · water features
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- microclimateLocalized atmospheric zone
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
- emissionsSubstances released into air
warming trends · thermal imaging · surface temperature · ambient temperature · regional climate · feedback loop · climate adaptation · climate resilience
Water loss from land surfaces
- vegetationPlant life collectively
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- soil moistureWater in ground
urban wildlife · xeriscaping · native plants · pollinator decline · urban forest · green spaces
Body's cooling system failure
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- dehydrationExcessive fluid loss
- thermal stressStrain from temperature change
- mortalityState of eventual death
vulnerable populations · elderly · air quality · smog · ozone · particulate matter · asthma · emergency rooms
asphalt
Petroleum-based paving material
- concreteSolid building mixture
- impervious surfacesAreas blocking water infiltration
- buildingsConstructed enclosed structures
rooftops · parking lots · pavement · skyscrapers · high-rises · density · sprawl · cityscape · infrastructure · land use
green roofs
Plant-covered building tops
- cool roofsSun-deflecting roof surfaces
- tree canopyUpper forest layer
- rain gardensPlanted basins absorbing runoff
shade structures · white roofs · albedo · parks · urban planning · water features
global warming
Rising planetary temperatures
- climate changePlanetary atmospheric transformation
- microclimateLocalized atmospheric zone
- greenhouse gasesEmissions that trap heat
emissions · warming trends · thermal imaging · surface temperature · ambient temperature · regional climate · feedback loop · climate adaptation · climate resilience
evapotranspiration
Water loss from land surfaces
- vegetationPlant life collectively
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
soil moisture · urban wildlife · xeriscaping · native plants · pollinator decline · urban forest · green spaces
heatstroke
Body's cooling system failure
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- dehydrationExcessive fluid loss
- thermal stressStrain from temperature change
mortality · vulnerable populations · elderly · air quality · smog · ozone · particulate matter · asthma · emergency rooms
- Urban Environmentair pollution, urban sprawl, population density, congestion, housing density
- urban hazardspotholes, crime, traffic, accidents, sinkholes
- urban heathot spots, surface temperature, asphalt, pavement, hot pavement
- Urban Problemsurban blight, blight, abandoned buildings, vacant lots, crime rates
- micrometeorologyboundary layer, turbulence, energy balance, microclimate, evapotranspiration
- city lifecity, urban life, traffic noise, downtown, metropolis
heat islandsgreen spaces
Outdoor vegetated public areas
parkland · rural areas · wetlands · tree canopy · natural landscapes
heat, heated, island, heating, heater, reheat, islands, isle, heats