Of late, there have been extensive conversations around urban heat islands (UHI). The phenomenon is specifically being seen as a cause of worry in growing cities where urban heat islands are taking over as a pressing issue. At Tribhuvan College of Environment and Development Sciences, one of the renowned environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, we believe it is high time people grow aware of this serious environmental concern and pour in efforts to get this into control before the situation goes out of hand. This is the reason why we have brought up this blog post today.
So, urban heat islands are specific areas within cities that experience significantly higher temperatures as compared to the surrounding rural areas. This occurrence is usually a result of human activities along with the denseness of infrastructure in cities, such as buildings and roads, which absorb and retain heat.
Factors like limited vegetation, heavy energy use, and reduced airflow from tall buildings further add to the effect. You may be wondering how UHIs really came into being. Well, it all began with the expansion of cities, leading to the replacement of natural landscapes with artificial surfaces that trap heat.
The situation has been aggravated further by the dominance of industrial activities, vehicle emissions, and air conditioning, which collectively release extensive warmth into the environment. Unfortunately, UHIs are one of the leading causes of climate change, health issues, and increased energy consumption.
What is the Impact of Urban Heat Islands?
Recently, you must have heard about the heat waves, which at one point had claimed over 300 lives in India. A region in Delhi even reported a blazing temperature of 52.3°C. Not many of you may know, but these outcomes were a result of the dominance of UHIs and nothing else.
Needless to say, UHIs have significant environmental, health, and economic impacts. The elevated temperatures in cities due to UHIs often lead to increased energy demand, particularly for air conditioning, which puts humungous strain on electricity grids, thus raising greenhouse gas emissions. The result is no good news as it leads to global climate change and more and more fossil fuel burning.
Similarly, the heat generated by UHIs worsens health risks, particularly in the case of vulnerable populations, such as elderly people, children, and those already suffering from pre-existing medical conditions. Heat-related illnesses, such as heatstroke and dehydration, have become quite common, with prolonged exposure to high temperatures expected to worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. UHIs also contribute to increased air pollution, as higher temperatures intensify the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant. Surely, an outcome, which cannot be ignored.
Environmentally, UHIs alter local ecosystems by stressing urban plants and animals, which generally have difficulty adjusting to higher temperatures. Increased water consumption for cooling and irrigation equally strains city resources. UHIs also affect stormwater management because hot surfaces lead to rapid evaporation and localized storms.
Economically, the need for cooling increases operational costs for businesses and households. Additionally, reduced productivity due to heat stress has a direct bearing on the workforce. In summary, we at Tribhuvan College of Environment and Development Sciences would like to mention that UHIs aggravate urban challenges by intensifying climate-related issues and degrading public health and environmental quality.
Are these not reasons enough for common people like you and us to get into action mode?
Are There Any Ways to Curb UHIs?
UHIs can be managed, but it would require a combination of strategies that focus not just on reducing heat absorption but also on enhancing the cooling of cities. One effective approach is to increase the green cover in urban localities by including parks, green roofs, and street trees. For example, New York City’s “MillionTreesNYC” initiative helped plant over one million trees, providing shade and reducing surface temperatures.
Another solution is to make use of reflective or, in other words, “cool” materials for buildings and roads. These materials, such as cool roofs and cool pavements, help in reflecting more sunlight while absorbing less heat, helping to lower city temperatures. Los Angeles has adopted cool pavement technology on several streets, significantly reducing ground temperatures.
Urban planning that incorporates better airflow and ventilation, such as designing wider streets or low-rise buildings, also helps in this regard. Finally, promoting energy efficiency through steps like using energy-efficient appliances and improving public transportation can also play a massive role in reducing waste heat from vehicles and buildings.
Together, these strategies can most definitely mitigate the impact of UHIs effectively. All that is needed is for us to take active steps today.
Conclusion
This blog post must have provided you with a fair idea of the concept of Urban Heat Islands. Today, we at Tribhuvan College of Environment and Development Sciences, ranked among the leading environmental science colleges in Delhi NCR, would like to take this opportunity to urge everyone reading this blog to kindly take note of the pressing issue of UHIs, its repercussions, and the corrective actions that must be taken.
Please understand that ignoring the impact of UHIs will further worsen the condition of the planet along with the life that currently thrives here. Hence, it is more of a “Now or Never” situation as far as tackling UHIs is concerned. Are you with us in the fight against UHIs?