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Contemporary urban environments > urban climate > Flashcards

urban climate Flashcards

1
Q

what is the urban heat island effect?

e.g: Melbourne’s heat island is…

A
  • urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas

- Melbourne’s heat island - 1.13 degrees

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2
Q

what is the urban heat island effect?

e.g: Melbourne’s heat island is…

A
  • urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas

- Melbourne’s heat island - 1.13 degrees

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3
Q

venturi effect

A
  • when the airflow of wind is squeezed, high velocities are produced
  • this effect increases as buildings tend to get taller towards city centre
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4
Q

albedo?

examples?

A

the amount of heat reflected off certain surfaces

  • grass albedo is 16-26%
  • concrete albedo is 10-35%
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5
Q

sky view factor

A

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

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6
Q

wider impact of urban heat island..

A
  • UHI increases convection leading to showers and more chance of storms by up to 25%
  • low pressure draws moist air in which increases cloud coverage
  • urban areas receive up to 10% more coverage
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7
Q

downdraught effect

A
  • air is being deflected (either up or down) when it hits the building
  • predominantly on windward side of the building
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8
Q

speed effect

A
  • air moves at a faster rate when there’s a higher altitude

- friction near the ground causes a slower rate at a lower altitude

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9
Q

down wind eddy / counter current effect

A
  • wind blows over building
  • low pressure area on leeward side of building
  • air sinks down to fill the area of low pressure
  • forms a cycle of air movement currents
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10
Q

where does air pollution mainly come from?

A
  • vehicle / transport emissions

- industry

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11
Q

particulate pollution

A

the release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere

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12
Q

photochemical pollution

A

creates smogs consisting of ozone and peroxyacetly nitrate (PAN)

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13
Q

Londons Pea Souper smog - 1953

  • cause?
  • why was it amplified?
  • Deaths?
A
  • cause: power stations and people heating homes with cheap coal
  • amplified by: lack of wind
  • 12,000 deaths
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14
Q

what did the London smog of 1953 lead to?

A

clean air act of 1956

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15
Q

why do HICs experience less pollution today?

A
  • more money to invest in environment schemes
  • more regulations in HICS
  • HIC populations use cleaner energy sources
  • LICs often based on manufacturing
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16
Q

long term impacts of air pollution

A
  • shorter life expectancy
  • increased health issues so people can’t work so less income which slows economic growth
  • loss of tourism
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17
Q

urban areas have ____% more precipitation than rural areas

A

5-15% more precipitation

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18
Q

why is there more urban precipitation?

A
  • dust and pollution create more condensation nuclei
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19
Q

why is there a higher risk of flooding in urban areas?

A
  • less vegetation so less evapotranspiration
  • impermeable surfaces
  • gutters and drains quickly carry water to rivers meaning lag time is shorter
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20
Q

ways of reducing air pollution

A
  • urban green areas
  • zoning of industry
  • transport solutions
  • clean air acts
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21
Q

how does urban greening help?

A
  • vegetation absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen
  • removes pollutants from air
  • makes air cleaner/healthier
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22
Q

an example of urban greening

A

London

- mayor wants to increase amount of surface areas greened by 5% by 2030

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23
Q

how does zoning of industry help?

A
  • placing industry on the outskirts of the city reduces the concentration of pollution
  • less people driving into city to work in the factories
  • air quality in city improves
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24
Q

examples of transport solutions

A
  • congestion charges in the CBD
  • public transport (eg: Curitiba bus system has taken 80% of population out of cars)
  • carpool lane
  • promoting greener transport such as bikes
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25
Q

clean air acts

A
  • regulate industry and how much is being emitted

- regulates cars on how clean/efficient they are

26
Q

what are SUDS?

A
  • sustainable urban drainage systems

- water management strategies designed to drain surface water moire sustainably than traditional practices

27
Q

types of SUDS

A
  • swales
  • wetland
  • permeable pavements
  • infiltration trenches
  • green roofs
28
Q

swales

A
  • provide temporary storage for storm water to reduce peak flows
  • encourage microbial decomposition
29
Q

wetland

A
  • increased biodiversity

- aesthetically pleasing

30
Q

permeable pavemets

A
  • reduces flooding

- pollutant removal takes place in sub-base material

31
Q

infiltration trenches

A
  • stone filled reservoirs which water gradually infiltrates

- pollutants removed by absorption and microbial decomposition

32
Q

what three objectives are SUDS aimed towards?

A
  • control quantity of run-off
  • improve quality of run-off
  • enhance nature conservation
33
Q

venturi effect

A
  • when the airflow of wind is squeezed, high velocities are produced
  • this effect increases as buildings tend to get taller towards city centre
34
Q

albedo?

examples?

A

the amount of heat reflected off certain surfaces

  • grass albedo is 16-26%
  • concrete albedo is 10-35%
35
Q

sky view factor

A

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

36
Q

wider impact of urban heat island..

A
  • UHI increases convection leading to showers and more chance of storms by up to 25%
  • low pressure draws moist air in which increases cloud coverage
  • urban areas receive up to 10% more coverage
37
Q

downdraught effect

A
  • air is being deflected (either up or down) when it hits the building
  • predominantly on windward side of the building
38
Q

speed effect

A
  • air moves at a faster rate when there’s a higher altitude

- friction near the ground causes a slower rate at a lower altitude

39
Q

down wind eddy / counter current effect

A
  • wind blows over building
  • low pressure area on leeward side of building
  • air sinks down to fill the area of low pressure
  • forms a cycle of air movement currents
40
Q

where does air pollution mainly come from?

A
  • vehicle / transport emissions

- industry

41
Q

particulate pollution

A

the release of particles and noxious gases into the atmosphere

42
Q

photochemical pollution

A

creates smogs consisting of ozone and peroxyacetly nitrate (PAN)

43
Q

Londons Pea Souper smog - 1953

  • cause?
  • why was it amplified?
  • Deaths?
A
  • cause: power stations and people heating homes with cheap coal
  • amplified by: lack of wind
  • 12,000 deaths
44
Q

what did the London smog of 1953 lead to?

A

clean air act of 1956

45
Q

why do HICs experience less pollution today?

A
  • more money to invest in environment schemes
  • more regulations in HICS
  • HIC populations use cleaner energy sources
  • LICs often based on manufacturing
46
Q

long term impacts of air pollution

A
  • shorter life expectancy
  • increased health issues so people can’t work so less income which slows economic growth
  • loss of tourism
47
Q

urban areas have ____% more precipitation than rural areas

A

5-15% more precipitation

48
Q

why is there more urban precipitation?

A
  • dust and pollution create more condensation nuclei
49
Q

why is there a higher risk of flooding in urban areas?

A
  • less vegetation so less evapotranspiration
  • impermeable surfaces
  • gutters and drains quickly carry water to rivers meaning lag time is shorter
50
Q

ways of reducing air pollution

A
  • urban green areas
  • zoning of industry
  • transport solutions
  • clean air acts
51
Q

how does urban greening help?

A
  • vegetation absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen
  • removes pollutants from air
  • makes air cleaner/healthier
52
Q

an example of urban greening

A

London

- mayor wants to increase amount of surface areas greened by 5% by 2030

53
Q

how does zoning of industry help?

A
  • placing industry on the outskirts of the city reduces the concentration of pollution
  • less people driving into city to work in the factories
  • air quality in city improves
54
Q

examples of transport solutions

A
  • congestion charges in the CBD
  • public transport (eg: Curitiba bus system has taken 80% of population out of cars)
  • carpool lane
  • promoting greener transport such as bikes
55
Q

clean air acts

A
  • regulate industry and how much is being emitted

- regulates cars on how clean/efficient they are

56
Q

what are SUDS?

A
  • sustainable urban drainage systems

- water management strategies designed to drain surface water moire sustainably than traditional practices

57
Q

types of SUDS

A
  • swales
  • wetland
  • permeable pavements
  • infiltration trenches
  • green roofs
58
Q

swales

A
  • provide temporary storage for storm water to reduce peak flows
  • encourage microbial decomposition
59
Q

wetland

A
  • increased biodiversity

- aesthetically pleasing

60
Q

permeable pavemets

A
  • reduces flooding

- pollutant removal takes place in sub-base material

61
Q

infiltration trenches

A
  • stone filled reservoirs which water gradually infiltrates

- pollutants removed by absorption and microbial decomposition

62
Q

what three objectives are SUDS aimed towards?

A
  • control quantity of run-off
  • improve quality of run-off
  • enhance nature conservation

Contemporary urban environments (3 decks)

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