Uploaded on 2017-04-20 by Eleftheria Tsakiri

Compulsory Exercise 2 1) Here are the results of some of the US cities that I searched: -Washington D.C.: up to 21.0 degrees hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas Average 4.7 degrees -Minneapolis: –up to 22 degrees hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas Average 4.3 degrees -New York: up to 20.0 degrees hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas Average 2.7 degrees / 1 fewer day above 90 degrees than in nearby rural areas -New Orleans: up to 16.0 degrees hotter in the city than in nearby rural areas Average 2.2 degrees -Miami: up to 17 degrees hotter in the city than I nearby rural areas Average 1.7 degrees / 15 fewer days above 90 degrees than in nearby rural areas 2) Which are the main UHI effects that you can identify in your area? Place of residence: Papagos, Athens, Greece I live in a suburb of Athens called Papagos. It’s not a rural area but it is a residential one. It is a bit different from the city center, in terms of climate and atmosphere and it is an area I can compare to the city center and provide the most information about. Firstly, Papagos is an area on the foot of a mountain that also has many parks and green spaces. Moreover, it is not densely populated and there are not too many cars. The above create a difference in the atmosphere of Papagos in comparison to the center of Athens. The air is cleaner and there is much less noise pollution. One can also feel the change in the temperature when you go from one place to the other. The estimated temperature difference is about 2-3 degrees Celsius (3.6 -4.4 Fahrenheit). Especially in the summer, the heat in the center of Athens is unbearable sometimes. 3) Which are the measures you would propose? I think that people should start designing with the UHI (and the environment in general), in mind. The designing of more green spaces or water surfaces could reduce the effects of the UHI. A good solution would be to redevelopment of the roofs of the existing buildings to green areas. I would also propose the establishing of better/stricter laws for car use in the city center to reduce emissions. 4) Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area? There are not any general policies concerning the reduction of the UHI effect in my area that I know of. The matter is neglected despite the fact that it is very important. Examples of new buildings that are designed with the environment or the UHI in mind can be found throughout the city but they are sparse and created with individual initiative.