The impact of man made structures and a wide variety of combustion sources on city temperatures creates heat island zones. Cities have become hotspots for higher temperatures in a way that affects neighboring areas lying as far as thousands of miles.
Scientists have conducted a number of studies aimed at uncovering the extent of this phenomenon. Many reports indicate that human activities generate sufficient heat to transform the nature of jet streams as well as other atmospheric elements. Luke Howard first mentioned the urban heat island in the early 1810s.
A study in climate change revealed that the phenomenon affects neighboring areas in a dissimilar fashion, some experience an increase in temperature while others cool down. Excess heat generated in cities located in the Northern Hemisphere triggers a rise in temperature in winter across northern parts of America and Asia. According to scientists, the net impact on global mean temperatures and World Energy News is almost insignificant.
Use of photovoltaic panels
Some sections of the scientific community contend that the best option involves the installation of photovoltaic panels on roofs. The panels play a crucial role in reducing fossil fuel emissions by lowering electricity demand in addition to cutting down sunlight absorption by manmade structures.
Photovoltaic panels on roofs have the capacity to convert sunlight to electricity. They do not contribute to the absorption of light by airborne pollutants because light is not reflected into the atmosphere, which exacerbates the urban heat island effect.
A World Energy News report indicates that white roofs offer substantial benefits in terms of reduction in electricity use in summer. The center argues that white roofs translate to minimal air conditioning, which in turn offsets heavy electricity use in winter.
Trends
The average increase is determined by the amount of heat moved by atmospheric and oceanic circulations, which hovers around 0.3 percent. The movement occurs on higher altitudes. Some scientists argue that the urban heat island effect is closely linked to global warming in comparison to greenhouse gases.
This is despite research results showing minimal impact on global mean temperatures. The atmospheric changes are more apparent at night than during daytime; wind speed also plays a crucial role in this regard.
Some raw materials used in the construction of many manmade structures retain a significant amount of heat. This in turn contributes to the urban heat island effect. Engineers have suggested the use of white paint on roofs and other surfaces. However, computer-modeling systems showed that despite the cooling benefits of white paint, it still compounded the global warming problem due to reduced cloudiness.
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