This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Describe why cities are generally warmer than surrounding rural areas. What will be the ideal ... (Read 262 times)

MirandaLo

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 538
Describe why cities are generally warmer than surrounding rural areas.
  What will be the ideal response?

Question 2

What is atmospheric stagnation and when might it occur?
  What will be the ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

samiel-sayed

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 337
Answer to Question 1

ANSWER: For more than 100 years, it has been known that cities are generally warmer than surrounding rural areas. This region of city warmth, known as the urban heat island, can influence the concentration of air pollution. The urban heat island is due to industrial and urban development. In rural areas, a large part of the incoming solar energy evaporates water from vegetation and soil. In cities, where less vegetation and exposed soil exists, the majority of the Suns energy is absorbed by urban structures and asphalt. Hence, during warm daylight hours, less evaporative cooling in cities allows surface temperatures to rise higher than in rural areas. At night, the solar energy (stored as vast quantities of heat in city buildings and roads) is slowly released into the city air. Additional city heat is given off at night (and during the day) by vehicles and factories, as well as by industrial and domestic heating and cooling units. The release of heat energy is retarded by the tall city walls that do not allow infrared radiation to escape as readily as do the relatively level surfaces of the surrounding countryside. The slow release of heat tends to keep nighttime city temperatures higher than those of the faster cooling rural areas.

Answer to Question 2

ANSWER: Light winds and poor vertical mixing can produce a condition known as atmospheric stagnation. The atmospheric conditions resulting in air stagnation usually occur during particular weather patterns. For example, a region under the domination of a surface high-pressure area or ridge often experiences clear skies, light winds, and a subsidence inversion. Moreover, where warm air rides up over cold surface air, such as ahead of an advancing warm front, stable atmospheric conditions promote the trapping of pollutants near the surface. On the other hand, the strong and gusty winds and generally less-stable air behind a cold front usually results in good dispersion.




MirandaLo

  • Member
  • Posts: 538
Reply 2 on: Jul 13, 2018
Great answer, keep it coming :)


rachel

  • Member
  • Posts: 323
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
:D TYSM

 

Did you know?

A recent study has found that following a diet rich in berries may slow down the aging process of the brain. This diet apparently helps to keep dopamine levels much higher than are seen in normal individuals who do not eat berries as a regular part of their diet as they enter their later years.

Did you know?

Signs and symptoms that may signify an eye tumor include general blurred vision, bulging eye(s), double vision, a sensation of a foreign body in the eye(s), iris defects, limited ability to move the eyelid(s), limited ability to move the eye(s), pain or discomfort in or around the eyes or eyelids, red or pink eyes, white or cloud spots on the eye(s), colored spots on the eyelid(s), swelling around the eyes, swollen eyelid(s), and general vision loss.

Did you know?

Adolescents often feel clumsy during puberty because during this time of development, their hands and feet grow faster than their arms and legs do. The body is therefore out of proportion. One out of five adolescents actually experiences growing pains during this period.

Did you know?

Approximately 500,000 babies are born each year in the United States to teenage mothers.

Did you know?

Common abbreviations that cause medication errors include U (unit), mg (milligram), QD (every day), SC (subcutaneous), TIW (three times per week), D/C (discharge or discontinue), HS (at bedtime or "hours of sleep"), cc (cubic centimeters), and AU (each ear).

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library