Uploaded on 2015-10-20 by AliciaPC

I have been living near Phoenix a few years ago, so I have checked this area and its surroundings. The website shows that Phoenix is up to 21º than the nearby rural area. Summers are 3.2º hotter and there are 5 more days above 90º than in nearby rural areas. **2. Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area?** I live in Madrid, and I can identify the surface heat island. At night, it is hotter in the city centre than in the suburbia. Madrid is an extended city and the buildings and concrete materials absorb the heat during the day and irradiate it at night. ![City Centre][1] The city centre is full of traffic; all public spaces are made of concrete and the façades reflect sunlight. Outside the centre, there are more public spaces, big parks and the vegetation is more evident. Less traffic, less pollution, less noises… ![Outside][2] **3. Which are the measures you would propose?** I would propose the use of light colors or different materials in order to reduce heat absorption. I would plant trees and vegetation to mitigate heat and atmospheric CO2, and reduce greenhouse gases and pollution by investing in renewal energy sources. **4. Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area?** I consider it is not a crucial aspect in the policy, as actual politicians are not investing as much as they should in livability. There are different proposals concerning reducing the pollution by limitating the traffic in the city centre, which I think is a good solution. But there are other things that should be preserved: taking care of the trees that are in bad state (some have been cut down), investing in the use of renewal energy sources (the new “sun law” makes it even more difficult) and in sustainable construction. [1]: http://i61.tinypic.com/oarpec.jpg [2]: http://i62.tinypic.com/vsnf37.jpg