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

Author Question: Explain the basic cause of the urban heat island. What will be an ideal ... (Read 77 times)

Zoey63294

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 539
Explain the basic cause of the urban heat island.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Compare the radiation absorption and emission characteristics of rural areas and urban areas. Use your conclusions to help explain the urban heat-island effect.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

Chocorrol77

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 313
Answer to Question 1

Answer: Urban heat islands occur because of modification to the energy balance that results when natural surfaces are replaced by artificial materials and when human activities release heat into the local environment.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Urban heat islands occur because of modifications to the energy balance that result when natural surfaces are paved and built on and when human activities release heat into the local environment. When the sun is low in the skynear sunrise and sunset, and during much of the day at high latitudes in the winterdirect sunlight that would otherwise reach the horizontal surface hits the vertical walls of buildings. This causes the angle of incidence to become closer to perpendicular and increases surface heating, which leads to a higher temperature. The presence of buildings also affects the rate of heating by changing the surface albedo. Darker buildings, of course, absorb more sunlight than lighter ones, and, in general, urban surfaces (asphalt streets, roofing materials) have lower albedos than the natural surfaces they replace. The presence of buildings also affects the amount of absorption by causing multiple reflections to occur, as shown in Figure 1419. As sunlight penetrates the urban landscape and hits the side of a building, some of the energy is absorbed and some is scattered back as diffuse radiation. Some of the scattered radiation strikes an adjacent building, where once again a portion is absorbed. This process goes on repeatedly, with each successive reflection at least partially absorbed upon contact with another wall. This increases the total absorption so the albedo of the urban area is actually lower than the albedo of the individual surfaces.




Zoey63294

  • Member
  • Posts: 539
Reply 2 on: Jul 14, 2018
Excellent


dawsa925

  • Member
  • Posts: 326
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
Wow, this really help

 

Did you know?

Walt Disney helped combat malaria by making an animated film in 1943 called The Winged Scourge. This short film starred the seven dwarfs and taught children that mosquitos transmit malaria, which is a very bad disease. It advocated the killing of mosquitos to stop the disease.

Did you know?

A serious new warning has been established for pregnant women against taking ACE inhibitors during pregnancy. In the study, the risk of major birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester was nearly three times higher than in children whose mothers didn't take ACE inhibitors. Physicians can prescribe alternative medications for pregnant women who have symptoms of high blood pressure.

Did you know?

Sildenafil (Viagra®) has two actions that may be of consequence in patients with heart disease. It can lower the blood pressure, and it can interact with nitrates. It should never be used in patients who are taking nitrates.

Did you know?

Although not all of the following muscle groups are commonly used, intramuscular injections may be given into the abdominals, biceps, calves, deltoids, gluteals, laterals, pectorals, quadriceps, trapezoids, and triceps.

Did you know?

People about to have surgery must tell their health care providers about all supplements they take.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library