The Urban Heat Island Effect: Causes and Consequences
The phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect describes the condition where metropolitan areas are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural counterparts. This temperature difference is primarily attributed to human modification of the landscape. Urban infrastructure, such as buildings and pavements, tends to absorb and retain more solar radiation than natural landscapes like forests and fields. The prevalence of dark materials, including asphalt and conventional roofing, exacerbates this issue. Furthermore, the lack of vegetation reduces the cooling effect provided by evapotranspiration.
The consequences of the UHI effect are considerable. Elevated temperatures in cities lead to increased energy consumption, particularly due to a higher air conditioning demand during warm seasons. This, in turn, can strain energy grids and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Air quality is also negatively impacted, as higher temperatures can accelerate the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant. For urban populations, these conditions pose health risks, especially for vulnerable individuals. Addressing this phenomenon involves implementing mitigation strategies such as promoting cool pavements and green roofs, which reflect more sunlight and help manage stormwater through less impermeable surfaces.
Câu hỏi luyện tập
1. What is the primary purpose of this passage?
2. What term is used for the harmful pollutant whose formation is quickened by high temperatures?
3. According to the passage, the UHI effect can lead to an increase in...
4. What specific type of demand rises significantly in cities during warm seasons due to the UHI effect?
5. The word 'exacerbates' in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to...
6. What general term does the passage use for approaches designed to reduce the UHI effect?
7. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a cause of the Urban Heat Island effect?