Contemporary Urban Environments Flashcards
Define economic inequality?
The difference between levels of income and living standards.
HIC’s- most wealthy live on outskirts, and inner city is where poverty is.
LIC’S- follow a different spatial pattern, more severe poverty on outskirts and affluent in middle= slum development and social issues arise eg: Commando a well- known drug trafficking gang in Rio de Janeiro.
Define social segregation?
When groups of the same population live apart due to wealth, race, ethnicity, age.
Issues of social segregation?
- leads to the formation of prejudices and RACISM
- individuals may feel isolated if they are not within demographic majority of their area.
- limited housing options and employment for migrants
- decreases SOCIAL MOBILITY of poorer individuals
Case Study for Social Segregation?
Shadsworth Estate in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Seen in BBC Panorama Documentary “Trouble on the Estate”
Strategies to combat urban problems?
- City specific minimum wage- London’s and New York pay higher wages to help increased costs of living in these areas, BUT 40% of developing countries don’t have a minimum wage.
- Fair rent prices
- Promoting multiculturalism eg: Notting Hill Carnival
- Provision of schools= break cycle of poverty
- Increased public transport= social mobility
Define cultural diversity?
The existence of a variety of ethnic/ cultural groups within a society?
Why are there high amounts of cultural diversity in cities?
- First major point of entry for migrants
- Better opportunities, jobs, wage.
- Normally already established cultural diversity
- Cities are more welcoming and tolerant
Many countries have developed a multicultural policy but this can lead to social segregation eg: creation of American term “ghetto”=almost exclusively ethnic minority.
Bad CASE STUDY of Multiculturalism?
Manchester 2001 Oldham riots between White and South Asian communities.
- Broke out after a gang destroyed the “Live and Let Live” pub with stones and petrol bombs .
Cultural Diversity CASE STUDY?
Brick Lane- Borough of Tower Hamlets
“Banglatown”
-Early 1970’s immigrants from Bangladeshi population began to settle. 50,000 living there.
-Old Truman Brewery is a centric piece in a diverse community.
Spitalfields and Banglatown - 27% White British
England- 81% White British
+cultural infrastructure and cuisine
-racial tensions eg: Altab Ali- allegedly murdered by National Front due to ghettoization of Banglatown
What do urban areas create?
Their own micro- climates, with a lower canopy layer and an exterior boundary layer.
What combines to create photochemical smog?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’S) + Nitrous oxides (incomplete combustion in care engines) + Ultraviolet Sunlight Rays.
More common in, hot sunny climates due to more sun light eg: Los Angeles
What are particulates and where do they come from?
Tiny particles of solids and liquids floating in the air
- Vehicle exhausts- very fine- 80% of fine particulates in urban areas are from vehicle exhausts.
- Construction, mining and quarrying- tiny fragments of rock, dust.
- Burning of cigarettes and fuel- nitrates, soot and ash.
Define Urban Heat Island Effect
When an urban areas has higher temperatures than the surrounding rural areas.
The highest temps (temp peaks) are in the CBD
The lowest temps (temp sinks) are over parks and bodies of water.
If the same land use takes place = (temp plateau)
If there is a sudden change in land use =( temp cliff)
Urban Heat Island Effect? 4 REASONS
- Low Albedo of urban surfaces- tarmac and concrete absorb and store heat from sun in day and release during the night.
- AIR POLLUTION- photochemical and particulate, creates a POLLUTION DOME, trapping out going heat radiation
- HUMAN ACTIVITY- factories, cars, air conditioning
- DECREASED EVAPOTRANSPIRATION- little/no vegetation means no transpiration and SUDS mean no evaporation= hotter temps.
What causes variations in the UHI?
DAY/NIGHT? In day 0.6oc difference but in day 3-4oc difference as during the night rural areas cool down, whereas urban areas release absorbed heat.
SEASONAL? In summer there is increased amounts of solar radiation= hotter
ANTICYCLONE? Clear Skies= more solar radiation reaches and heats the ground.
Low wind= hot air isn’t moved/ blown away
How do urban areas affect wind?
- Decrease of wind speeds in urban areas as tall buildings create friction.
- “Turbulence” is created when wind hits the face of a building and is deflected.
- When wind is channelled down streets= CANYON EFFECT- can effect building developments.