A Data-Driven Approach to Cooling a City

In large cities, the urban heat island effect results in annual average temperatures that can range from 1.8 to 5.4 degrees higher than the surrounding areas; at night, cities can be up to 22 degrees hotter. This happens because cities are landscapes of asphalt and have buildings of concrete and steel that stretch into the skies. These materials absorb heat, hold it during the day and release it when the sun goes down. Urban traffic congestion aggravates this problem as carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles trap heat. Follow this link to read more. Sourced from: Governing