Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Geography Human > CUE Bk4 - Urban Climate > Flashcards

CUE Bk4 - Urban Climate Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

What happens to these elements of the climate in an urban area compared to rural areas?
1. Temp
2. Precipitation
3. Relative humidity
4. Visibility
5. Wind speed
6. Radiation (sun)
7. Pollution

A
  1. Warmer
  2. Incr
  3. Decr
  4. Incr
  5. Decr
  6. Lower
  7. Incr (1,000%)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 2 zones within an urban canopy?

A
  • below roof level
  • urban boundary layer > nature of urban surface
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

UHIE
1. What does it stand for
2. Reasons for such a large difference in figures
3. What is the name of the effect linked to dark surfaces
4. What is the name for when different parts of the city are at different temps

A
  1. Urban heat island effect
    • more heating on
    • building materials retain heat
    • lower wind speeds
    • dark coloured surfaces
    • pollution
    • more enclosed areas
    • vehicles
    • heat sources
  3. Albedo effect
  4. Isotherms
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Issues linked to high summer temps

A
  • incr evapotranspiration + rainfall
  • more energy having to be produced for air conditioning
  • incr unreliable weather
  • incr crop failure
  • drought
  • wildfires
  • heat exhaustion/heat stroke
  • melting ice
  • loss of industry (farming)
  • health issues > skin conditions, respiratory issues
  • midday peak and lack of night cooling
  • incr pests and disease > new food sources
  • changing tourism habits
  • water shortages + water quality issues
  • surge in energy demand
  • tropical diseases
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

UHIE is the product of a number of factors (8)

A
  1. anthropogenic heat sources
  2. multiple reflections > incoming radiation from tall buildings
  3. surfaces have a lower albedo
  4. efficient drainage > decr availability for evaporation
  5. lower amounts of vegetation > transpiration
  6. dome of particulate and NO2 pollution > allows shortwave radiation
  7. incr cloud cover
  8. incr roughness > decr wind speed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When is the largest contrast in the UHIE

+ what does diurnal mean

A
  • calm high pressure
  • temperature inversion
  • most distinct in winter
  • most distinct at night

Diurnal > changes within the day

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are examples of micro hot spots and micro cold spots in cities?

A

Hot spots
- large car parks,shopping centres, industrial units
Cold spots
- parks, fields, water bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Methods of dealing with UHIE?

A
  1. incr surface reflectivity (incr albedo) white surfaces
  2. incr vegetation e.g. green roofs > incr evapotranspiration + reduce CO2, act as insulator, incr biodiversity, attractive, decr surface runoff
  3. urban greening > planting trees on east + west
  4. place air conditioning units in the shade
  5. cool cars > white
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the reason for the high heat risk in London?

A

Excessive urban heat island effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the urban heat island effect?

A

Large cities have higher temperatures than the surrounding areas because of a variety of human activity. Dark surfaces absorb heat during the day and mass heating causes warming.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

When is the UHIE most likely to occur?

A

On a calm night during an anticyclone when there is less mixing of air. The high pressure leads to cloudless skies. By contrast rural areas tend to have lower temperatures.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the 3 changes to precipitation and fog due to it being in an urban area instead of rural?

A
  1. Incr in rainfall
  2. Reduced amounts and incidents of snowfall
  3. Lower relative humidity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In urban areas compared to rural areas, what is the percentage increase in precipitation?

A

10%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is there increased rainfall in urban areas?

A
  • rainfall a result of low pressure
  • albedo effect occurs due to more dark surfaces
  • warmer surfaces warm up surrounding air
  • rising air
  • depressions and updrafts
  • more intense thunderstorms
  • major cities located at water sources so there is a source of moisture + availability for evaporation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do dust particles act as when they combine with a water droplet magnet, which is linked to pollution?

A

Hydroscopic Nuclei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the reason for why relative humidity is lower overall in urban areas but not at night?

A
  • fewer water bodies, vegetation + more efficient run off
  • urban maintains humidity at night as in rural areas air cools rapidly + moisture decr due to dew fall
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the reasoning (2 components) that cause fog to occur more regularly in urban areas?

A
  1. Decr relative humidity
  2. Pollution levels
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

List the facts and figures below about London
1. Number of days a year in early 1700s with smog
2. Number of days a year in late 1800s with smog
3. Incident that caused 12,000 deaths in 4 days
4. When clean air act was created

A
  1. 20
  2. 50
  3. The Great Smog of late November/early December 1952 > real ‘pea-souper’
  4. 1956
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does the NEE’s term ‘apocalypse’ mean?

A

Used to describe the high death toll which is created when fog traps pollutants to create toxic smog

20
Q

In urban areas
1. Annual mean speeds are…
2. The frequency of claims can be…

A
  1. 20-30% lower
  2. 5-10% higher
21
Q

What is the Venturi effect?

+ what is done to try and counteract this

A
  • when the pressure in the gap between 2 buildings causes the wind to pickup speed and reach high velocities
  • some buildings are put on stilts to avoid this but some wind flow is needed to remove pollution
  • Buildings are in groups and their size and spacing can alter wind patterns
22
Q

Examples of buildings that have been adapted to cope with winds in urban areas

A
  1. Burj Kalifa, Dubai
    - over 828m
    - tallest building in the world
    - concern over vortexes pulling the building side to side
    - softened edges to wind can go by
    - sways 2m side to side
23
Q

What effects do urban buildings have on wind?

A

Urban buildings produce a lot of friction, which slows down the wind and alters its direction. However, winds are channeled down long straight streets where there is less friction. These are called urban canyons.

24
Q

Facts and figures relating to how urban air quality is poorer than rural areas.
X what changes in..
1. Carbon monoxide
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Nitrous oxide
4. Sulphur oxide

A
  1. General increase
  2. X2
  3. X10
  4. X200
25
Q

What are the 5 key atmospheric pollutants stated by DEFRA

+ what does it stand for

A
  1. Ozone O3
  2. Nitrogen dioxide NO2
  3. Sulphur dioxide SO2
  4. Particulate matter (PM10) from exhausts, cement dust, tobacco smoke, ash
  5. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

Department for Environment, Food and Rual Affairs

26
Q

CARBON MONOXIDE
1. What is it
2. Cause
3. Impacts

A
    • tasteless, odourless, colourless, poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of fuel
    • estimated that road transport is responsible for almost 90% of all CO emissions in UK
    • concentrations tend to be highest closer to busy roads
      3.
    • affects transport of O2 around the body in the blood
    • breathing in low levels can result in headaches, nausea, fatigue
27
Q

NITROGEN DIOXIDE
1. What is it
2. Cause
3. Impacts

A
    • reacts with hydrocarbons in presence of sunlight to create zone, and contributes to formation of particulates
    • road transport worth 50% of emissions
      3.
    • can inflame the lining of the lung + impacts more pronounced with people with asthma
28
Q

PARTICULATE OR PARTICULATE MATTER
1. What is it
2. Cause
3. Impacts

A
    • tiny bits of solid or liquids suspended in the air
      2.
    • particulates originate from power stations or vehicle emissions
    • includes small bits of metal and rubber from engine wear, dust, ash, sea salt, pollens and soil particles
    • smaller than P10 can settle in airways + deep in the lungs > health problems
29
Q

SULPHUR DIOXIDE
1. What is it
2. Cause
3. Impacts

A

1.
- colourless gas with a strong odour produced when material or fuel containing sulphur is burned
2.
- major contributors = coal and oil burning industry e.g. power stations + refineries
3.
- short term > coughing, tightening of chest, narrowing of airways
- can produce haze, acid rain, damage to lichens + plants + damage of buildings

30
Q

What causes variations in pollution caused by traffic? (4)

A
  • volume + speed
  • type and proportion of vehicles
  • age + level of maintenance
  • temp of engine + fuel type
31
Q

What are the factors (geography) of built areas that affect pollution levels?

A
  • building density
  • road network
  • presence of vegetation
  • level/location of industry
32
Q

What is photochemical smog + what are some of the health issues caused by it?

A

Result of chemical reaction between sunlight and nitrogen oxides
- leads to higher levels of ozone in the lower atmosphere

  • headaches
  • eye irritation
  • coughs
  • chest pains
  • respiratory
  • age selective
33
Q

Name of the harmful microscopic particles we are trying to stop making now?

A

PM2.5

34
Q

What effect do PM2.5 particles have on the body?

A

Small > lungs > bloodstream > heart > cause plaques (breaking connections between brain cells

  • cuts life by 6 months
35
Q

Who and when + detail about the 1st person to have pollution as cause of death?

A

9 year old in 2013
> went to hospital 27 times

36
Q

How many deaths are linked annually to pollution in the UK?

A

50,000

37
Q

Globally, what fraction of deaths are linked to pollution?

A

1/6

38
Q

BEIJING CASE STUDY
1. How many motor vehicles
2. What industry causes mass amounts
3. What occurs from the north
4. AQI value in jan 2013
5. How much in losses?

A
  1. 5 million
  2. Coal burning
  3. Dust storms
  4. 886 (reading above >100 unhealthy for sensitive groups, >400 hazardous, range ends at 500)
  5. $3.7
39
Q

How many Londoners under 19, live in areas that breach EU pollution limits?
+ ways London deals with pollution

A

500,000

  • air quality alerts at bus and tube stations
  • regulations about exercise levels + suggestions
  • legal limits of pollution
40
Q

What is photochemical pollution?

A

A type of pollution that leads to the formation of ozone (O3) and other oxidising compounds from primary pollutants, for example, nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the lower layer of the atmosphere

41
Q

What are the 3 categories of pollution reducing policies?

A
  1. Legislation
  2. Vehicle restriction
  3. Technical innovations
42
Q

What occurred in London (Clean Air Acts), after ‘pea souper’ in 1952?

Linked to pollution reducing policies

A
  • 1956 acts introduced smoke free zones > further enforced by later legislation
  • 1990s regulations on levels of atmospheric pollution (PM10 focus)
  • local councils required to monitor pollution and establish Air Quality Management Areas (areas where more pollution is likely to occur + plant vegetation there)
  • DEFRA monitoring
43
Q

Give some examples of vehicle control in the inner suburbs linked to pollution reducing policies

A
  1. Athens > one square mile in the city centre traffic free, lots of UK cities
  2. London > congestion charge
  3. Mexico City > alternating number plates (Sunday not covered)
  4. Paris > in extreme conditions > alternate driving days, free travel on buses and underground
44
Q

Negatives of public transport

A
  • high cost (10% incr in march 24)
  • unhygienic
  • not integrated
  • unsafe
  • not comfortable
  • lack of parking
  • delays and cancellations (unreliable)
  • not available everywhere (rural areas)
  • takes longer time (inefficient)
45
Q

Examples of zoning of industry to control pollution levels in cities? (2)

A
  1. Build downwind
  2. Higher factory chimneys to emit pollution above the inversion layer
46
Q

Examples of vehicle emission legislation?

A
  • better fuel burning engines
  • catalytic converters
  • switch to led free petrol
  • electric vehicles
    > HEV’s electric hybrids
    > PHEV’s plug in hybrids
    > EV’s fully electric
47
Q

When and what are the 2 key government schemes in London?

A
  1. 2003 congestion charge introduced in central London
  2. 2008 Greater London Low Emission Zone

Geography Human (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions