Uploaded on 2015-12-15 by CristinaCrisca

Research in the US identified that urbanization combined with climate change is raising urban temperatures. Statistics show that summers in the US have been warming since 1970, with cities being hotter than nearby rural areas and having more searing hot days each year, which can contribute to increased ozone air pollution. The urban heat island (UHI) effect is even more intense at night. 2) Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area? In the Sydney area, density and vertical expansion of housing has been identified to play a role in the UHI effect. New estates which are increasingly being built on the edges of the city are prone to temperature increases, and, like in the US, overnight temperatures increase more than during the day. ![enter image description here][1] ![enter image description here][2] The photo of the Sydney skyline taken from the Botanic Gardens shows that even though there are skyscrapers in the city, where the UHI effect is present, compared to other cities Sydney is not too bad because there are many green areas and it is close to the ocean and the harbour. 3) Which are the measures you would propose? I would propose to retain old trees as much as possible, and plant new ones in streets where they are lacking, aiming to increase shade and the purifying effect that plants provide. It would be good to have fountains (which use recycled water) to provide the cooling effect, and plan pedestrian-only areas to reduce the heat and fumes from engines. Building high rises for apartments can have environmental benefits, as it limits the urban sprawl, but they should be spaced out to allow air flow and they should have vegetation around them. 4) Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area? Monitoring systems have been installed in areas of City of Sydney Council, which have temperature and humidity meters. The Council is working with a university research partner to determine the costs and benefits of solutions to reduce the UHI effect, amongst which are plans to have additional trees and bodies of water, and also trialling lighter-coloured pavements, which should not retain as much heat as dark surfaces and have the potential to reduce temperatures. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501860451838002.jpg [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14501860724605951.jpg