Urban heat island

Question 1

venturi effect

Answer 1

wind funnelled into narrow urban canyons created by tall buildings, speeds up as it becomes

Question 2

urban heat island

Answer 2

urban area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding areas

Question 3

Albedo

Answer 3

a measure of how much light hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.

Question 4

sky view factor

Answer 4

the amount of sky you can see without view being impeded by tall buildings

Question 5

specific heat capacity

Answer 5

a measure of energy required to raise the temperature of 1kg of material by 1 degree

Question 6

anthropogenic heat

Answer 6

heat given off by human activity (vehicles, central heating, industry). Add heat to urban environment raising its temperature above the rural surroundings

Question 7

height / arrangement of buildings

Answer 7

main factor

urban albedo is much lower than rural albedo (more heat absorbed - more SENSIBLE heat)

Question 8

buildings materials

Answer 8

urban areas heat up more quickly than rural areas. the specific heat capacity for concrete is 1/3 that of soil therefore concrete will heat up more quickly

Question 9

pollutants

Answer 9

have both cooling and heating effect
dust and smog can reduce sunlight by 6% causing a cooling effect
CO2 absorbs long-wave radiation which heats the urban environment further

Question 10

presence of water

Answer 10

latent heat evaporates water - does not give off heat

sensible heat - heat that is absorbed and creates more heat