Uploaded on 2015-10-17 by KABALEESWARAN

In this first part of the exercise we would like you to follow the link to the Climate Central website and check the temperature differences that have been recorded in US cities and their surrounding rural areas due to UHI effect. Answer: Visited the climate central website I have also studied some of the cities, and their surrounding temperatures because of UHI effect. The cities which I had studied and the captured data from climate central are as below: WASHINGTON: 21° hotter in the city compared to rural areas; city temperature on an average is higher by 4.7° than rural temperatures; Interestingly Washington D C holds No 6 Position, in terms of Highest difference between city and rural temperature. **2. Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area?** Now that you saw the significant effect of UHI in the US cities, can you provide data and information for your own place of residence? In addition to that, we want you to provide two images; the first one of a city and the second one of its surrounding rural area (preferably one of those areas is your place of residence). Compare the two images in terms of reasons that contribute to the UHI effect of the city. I live in a city called Chennai in India . In the city of Chennai the following are the UHI observations. Data gathered from statistics recorded from Journals, websites related to UHI for Chennai are as below. (Courtesy information and pictures (http://journals-sathyabama.com/archives/dmt/DMT-Int-Journal-July-2008-14.pdf ) http://cafetinnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/02030503.pdf UHI effects that are identified in my area of city of CHENNAI as below • The estimation of urban heat island (UHI) in Chennai city and surrounding areas, using the land surface temperature as a main indicator, shows, the temperature difference of 12° c between the city area and the surrounding areas • The physical properties of urbanization structures play a main factor for transferring the land surface thermal properties to the air through the vertical exchange of surface radiation heat flux, when compared to the sub- urban surrounding areas for the difference in temperature, where the vegetation cover and water bodies play a major role in reducing surface temperature in my city of CHENNAI and its suburbs. • COOLER AREAS /LESS AFFRECETED BY TEMPERATURE EVEN THOUGH INSIDE CITY: The major green areas in Chennai include the Guindy National Park, Raj Bhavan, IIT Madras, Forest reserve near Sembakkam in the southern part of Chennai. • NORTHERN AND CBD AREA OF CHENNAI: Northern Chennai is primarily an industrial area and the central Chennai is the commercial heart of the city with the downtown area. Southern and Western Chennai, which were predominantly residential areas are currently turning into commercial areas, hosting a large number of IT and financial companies. ![enter image description here][1] ![enter image description here][2] ![enter image description here][3] **3.Which are the measures you would propose?** If you could take part in the decision making process of an initiative related to the UHI effect, which are the measures that you would propose in order to reduce it and provide a more livable environment to the citizens? • The presence of vegetation is a major factor in cooling urban sites. By study, the concentrated built up space contributes to the increase in air temperatures. The study confirms the existence of UHI effect in the city of Chennai and indicates an intensity of 2.48°C and 3.35°C during summer and winter respectively. • The intensity of UHI has a strong impact on urban factors such as the density of built up spaces; presence of vegetation, thermal properties of materials etc. can improve the thermal environment. • At city level, large green patches can reduce night time air temperatures. At micro level, trees and plants surrounding the built up spaces can reduce the absorption of solar radiation. The UHI effect is a common feature found in most cities. • Reducing emissions by decongesting the roads • • Use of passive techniques in designs for heating and cooling thereby reducing the anthropogenic heat generated. o Increasing the vegetation cover by providing more trees to provide shelter and shade. o Increased use of light colored surfaces thereby reducing the absorption of radiation. Therefore the basic strategies applicable to my city specifically CHENNAI in mitigating the negative impacts of UHI are shading the hard surfaces that are directly exposed to sun. • Medium to large sized parks inside the city, and in the CBD • Reducing the anthropogenic heat • use of light color materials to Save cooling energy References **4.Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area?** **Do you know of policies in your community that are planned to reduce the UHI effect? Provide us with information regarding any visible results.** • YES the environmental pollution Board has enforced lot of policies in reference to this area of concern. • Capacity Building for Industrial pollution management- to reduce Heat from Industry areas • National green tribunal is constituted to improve vegetation and tress • Law and enforcement to allocate OSR area of 10 % of green space , landscapes, parks etc ( open area when you build residential colony exceeding 5 acres ). • Strong law and enforcement to prevent cutting trees inside the CBD and in Avenues, to improve green cover. ( corporations will be supervising the same for any illegal tree cutting ) In addition to this recently Shakthi foundation, in India an Independent research body consisting learned and eminent members from the field of architecture and environmental study has started this Private research bureau and submitted report on Mitigating UHI effects in India and in various parts of Indian cities. • They had given research direction in the areas to mitigate the Damages of UHI in various cities in India • Suggested to Govt on Simulation research to help disaggregate the relative impact of various causal factors on UHI individually and in combination with other parameters, with the help of numerical models: . • They have also suggested on Research to assess the extent of the impact of UHI on the environment, energy use, economics, and health in the Indian context. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/144506985559945.png [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14450699079728428.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14450700983823588.jpg