Urban microclimates

• The urban heat island defines the urban area as a significantly warmer 'island' surrounded by a rural 'sea' of cooler temperatures
• There are several reasons for urban heat Islands:

  • Urban areas have a lower albedo
  • Larger expanses of glass and steel reflect heat into surrounding streets
  • Power stations, industries, vehicles and the inhabitants themselves or generate their own heat.
• Albedo is a reflectivity of a surface which varies according to its colour and texture.