Author Question: Why is it that the urban heat island effect contributes very little to overall atmospheric warming? ... (Read 76 times)

lracut11 · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

Why is it that the urban heat island effect contributes very little to overall atmospheric warming? What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Explain how the observed increases in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be a result of increased
temperature and not the other way around? What will be an ideal response?

jaykayy05 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Cities occupy a very small percentage of the overall volume of the planet that contributes to Earth's
climate. The volume of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and uppermost part of the lithosphere are
enormous compared to the small volume of cities.

Answer to Question 2

Warming of the atmosphere at the end of the last ice age resulted in warming of the oceans, which
resulted in a decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater. This carbon dioxide left
the oceans and went into the atmosphere.