Giving Compass' Take:
- Here is an overview of what an urban heat island is and how it will be dangerous for city residents experiencing city heat waves due to climate change.
- What are the unique conditions for cities and urban centers that make heat waves worse? What communities in cities will bear the brunt of urban heat?
- Explore more cases of extreme heat in cities.
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As people around the world swelter in rising heat hitting new highs, spare a thought for those living in city centres - where research has found that temperatures can be considerably higher than in nearby green spaces or surrounding rural areas.
This phenomenon is known as the urban heat island (UHI) effect - where dense clusters of concrete buildings and infrastructure such as roads absorb, retain and radiate more heat than green areas, leading to temperatures that are often several degrees hotter.
A recent study of six cities - Cairo, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Mumbai and New York - found that temperature variations between the hottest and coolest spot in each city ranged from 4.5 degrees Celsius (8 degrees Fahrenheit) in New York to 8°C (14.5°F) in Madrid.
Read the full article about urban heat islands by Thomson Reuters Foundation at Eco-Business.