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.
How to urban areas affect rain, fog and thunderstorms?
INCREASED
- The UHI effect warms air which means it can hold more water.= convectional uplift.
- Pollution and particulates released in urban areas form CONDESNSATION NUCLEI that water vapour condense around= cloud formation.
What is convectional uplift?
The upwards movement of warm, moist air.
UHI effect CASE STUDY?
London
- Temps in CBD at 10oc, contrast to urban fringe at 5oc
- Temp sink a long the River Thames
Strategies? Urban Greening, Green Roofs, Cool Surfaces (high albedo) Cool Cars (high albedo, tinted windows).
What year was The Great Smog in London?
What/ when was legislation put into place?
The Great Smog of London was in 1952
The worst of London’s infamous winter fogs.
-12,000 died in 4 days-
=CLEAN AIR ACT of 1956 - smoke control areas, tall chimneys from Industrial pollution to disperse it higher in the atmosphere and affect people less
What are five methods that can be used to improve urban air quality?
- Congestion charge- eg: London’s -1bn back into tourism, but roadworks and increased congestion on edges of zones.
- Pedestrianisation- zones where only travel mode is by foot reduces congestion but can lead to shops having fewer customers.
- Public Transport Improvements eg: Metro link in Manchester, PARK AND RIDE
- Legislation- Clean Air Act of 1956
- Alternative fuels- Electric Vehicles, lower emissions but need charging points and battery production and disposal can be problematic.
BIOFUELS- eg: biodiesel is produced from plants, replace diesel and has less particulate emissions BUT crops to grow decrease biodiversity.
What did London also do do combat Air Pollution?
Introduce The City Of London Air Quality Strategy
Levels of pollutants are too high in London.
“Square Mile” has been designated as an Air Quality Management area.
AIM: over 90% of Square Mile meets the targets for nitrogen oxide by 2050.
The major of London gave 1 million to pilot a range of strategies. EG:
-30 electric vehicle charging points
-Provision and promotion of cargo bikes
What is Urban Drainage Like and what two things does it cause?
Impermeable surfaces and high drainage means little infiltration + precipitation is higher in urban areas+ high surface run-off = SHORT LAG TIME, HIGH PEAK DISCAHARGE AND a fast return to BASE FLOW.
SUDS?
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
eg: CASE STUDY= Lambdrove, Cambourne
10% cheaper than natural/ usual installation.
