Urban Climate

Question 1

what is the urban heat island

Answer 1

urban areas are warmer than their rural surroundings. this is known as the UHI which is an average of 1-2 degrees warmer per year than its surroundings

Question 2

what is the venturi effect

Answer 2

urban canyons produce high wind velocities thanks to it, as it has the effect of ‘squeezing’ the airflow

Question 3

what is the albedo

Answer 3

the amount of warmth reflected off a surface

Question 4

what is the sky view factor

Answer 4

the amount of sky we can see without our view being impended by tall buildings

Question 5

what is specific heat capacity

Answer 5

the amount of energy needed to heat 1 gram of a substance by 1 degrees celcius

Question 6

explain the urban heat island

Answer 6

sunlight heats the air very slowly so its actually the sun heating surfaces that heat the air around it
water has a high albedo (sucks up the suns energy) and as there is less exposed water in cities the heat is put straight onto buildings which absorb the energy
at night the temperature difference (diurnal temperature range) is bigger

Question 7

how can cities manage the UHI effect

Answer 7

by putting in place more vegetation and open spaces