Uploaded on 2016-03-02 by mkont1

Urbanization negatively impacts the environment mainly by the production of pollution, the modification of the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere, and the covering of the soil surface. Considered to be a cumulative effect of all these impacts is the UHI, defined as the rise in temperature of any man-made area, resulting in a well-defined, distinct "warm island" among the "cool sea" represented by the lower temperature of the area’s nearby natural landscape (figure 1). Though heat islands may form on any rural or urban area, and at any spatial scale, cities are favoured, since their surfaces are prone to release large quantities of heat. Nonetheless, the UHI negatively impacts not only residents of urban-related environs, but also humans and their associated ecosystems located far away from cities. In fact, UHIs have been indirectly related to climate change due to their contribution to the greenhouse effect, and therefore, to global warming. The next image shows Athens in Greece and I took it from internet ![ATHENS][1] I don't know of policies in my community but I think that someone must inform us. [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14569294936327926.jpg