Uploaded on 2016-08-02 by Maria Palomares

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. Bogotá city is located in a sabana that is bordered to the east by the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes mountain range. The first picture shows the urban area which is Usaquen neighborhood and the other picture appear a rural area in the Eastern mountain, surrounding the city. The physical composition of both places are different, the urban areas are characterized by dry, impenetrable surfaces covered in concrete, such as side-walks and roads. The development of more vegetation is lost, and more surfaces are paved with buildings. In contrast the rural area full of vegetation and open land dominated, there are trees and vegetation that provides shade, which helps lower surface temperatures. The conditions of the urban area (first picture) is a surrounding that increased the urban temperature and this place is showed as a threaten to human health. The livability of the habitants is compromise by the pollution levels that cause different health conditiones. This jeopardize the quality of life in the city, the economic productivity is compromise, damage the energy resources and impacting in environmental quality. 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 proposal to reduce the UHI effect would be to create more open spaces like parks and green spaces, full of trees and vegetation. Bogotá is a city that has a lower amount of open green spaces, it is a city cover in concrete. It would be important to promote the in the new buildings the creation of entry gardens that would to enrich the city and the public space, as well as living roofs. Certainly, these measures would change the livability of the city, the streets would be more habitable. The people would enjoy being in the streets and also the city would be transforming into a enjoyable place. 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. My city, Bogotá has no measures to reduce the UHI effect. The recent administration is concern of the lack of parks in the city but is not a matter of environment quality. The concern is the amount of public green spaces, places where people can develop different activities. But Bogota’s UHI effect is disturbing, the difference between urban and rural area temperature is of 6 celsius degrees.