Uploaded on 2015-10-22 by DinaSantos

I have chosen the cities of Seattle and Las Vegas for this analysis. Seattle is up to 17.0º hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas. In average, city summers are 4.1º hotter than in rural areas with 2 more days above 90º F than in nearby rural areas. Seattle has the 10th biggest difference between urban and rural temperatures. Las Vegas is up to 24.0º hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas. In average, city summers are 7.3º hotter than in rural areas with 22 more days above 90º F than in nearby rural areas. Las Vegas has the 1st biggest difference between urban and rural temperatures. **2. Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area?** According to the Köppen climate classification in most of Portugal’s mainland territory the climate is temperate continental, Type C, checking the subtype Cs (A temperate climate with dry summer) presenting some varieties. The following are the climate normals in Vila Nova de Gaia, between 1981 and 2010 (the Porto metropolitan area climate station is actually in Vila Nova de Gaia, Serra do Pilar). I am not aware of any studies on UHI effects in Vila Nova de Gaia, but this is a suburban area in Metropolitan Porto, with a great variety of green spaces, no significant densities and it locates between the Douro river bank and the Atlantic Ocean, suffering with intense winds, which would mitigate UHI effects. Porto, on the other hand, has proven to have UHI effects, revealed in some recent studies. [*The shape and magnitude of Porto’s heat island as a sustainability indicator* ][1] ![climate normals Vila Nova Gaia][2] ![climate normals Vila Nova Gaia1][3] The attached photos show Vila Nova de Gaia’s centre and an aerial view of the city. The photo shows the urban area along Douro river bank. The urban fabric has a relatively low density. In the central areas one would expect the UHI effect to be present, but the sea and the river, plus the strong winds daily sensed here, strongly influence the local climate. The aerial view allows one to recognize a variety of open spaces and green areas, which compensate the densification. **3. Which are the measures you would propose?** I think that an important step would be to reduce the automobile traffic, especially because Vila Nova de Gaia is crossed by the larger freeway in the country, connecting Porto to Lisbon, and even for a small country, there is a large number of vehicles circulating and polluting every day. Keeping and expanding the green spaces in the city center can compensate for the densification of the city. Another important action would be the implementation of green roofs in new and existing buildings, helping to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality. **4. Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area?** I am not aware of any particular policy by the local administration concerning UHI effect, however, there are several projects that aim for a sustainable city, looking to improve the quality of life and the local environment. [1]: http://web.letras.up.pt/anamt/Publica%C3%A7%C3%B5es/The%20shape%20and%20magnitude%20of%20porto%27s%20heat%20island%20as%20sustainability%20indicator.pdf [2]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14454840655495119.png [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/1445484090218426.png