The Urban Heat Island Effect: Causes and Consequences
The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a well-documented environmental phenomenon where metropolitan areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their surrounding rural counterparts. This temperature disparity is primarily attributed to the modification of land surfaces. Urban infrastructure, composed of materials like asphalt, concrete, and dark-colored roofing, exhibits a high capacity for heat absorption and retention. These impervious surfaces store vast amounts of solar energy during the day and release it slowly throughout the night, preventing the city from cooling down effectively.
The problem is further exacerbated by the relative lack of vegetation. Trees and green spaces, which would otherwise provide cooling through the process of evapotranspiration, are often scarce in dense urban cores. Furthermore, waste heat generated by human activities—including transportation, industrial processes, and building climate control systems—contributes substantially to the ambient temperature. The implications of the UHI effect are considerable. It leads to increased energy demand for air conditioning, which elevates greenhouse gas emissions and places a strain on power grids. Moreover, higher temperatures can intensify the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant, and pose significant health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations during heatwaves. Mitigation strategies, therefore, often focus on a multi-faceted approach that incorporates green infrastructure and reflective materials.
Câu hỏi luyện tập
1. What is the primary purpose of this passage?
2. According to the passage, why do urban areas fail to cool down effectively at night?
3. What natural cooling process is hindered by a lack of trees and green spaces in cities?
4. Which of the following is identified as a consequence of the UHI effect?
5. What harmful air pollutant is mentioned as being intensified by the high temperatures in urban areas?
6. The passage suggests that solving the UHI problem requires what kind of strategy?
7. In the first paragraph, the word 'impervious' most closely means: