Published in ERW, 8 Oct 2012
Four decades of urban expansion alone can drive up regional temperatures by more than one degree, according to computer simulations performed in the US. The simulations, which examine various urban-expansion scenarios in Arizona up to 2050, also reveal that light-reflecting “cool roofs” are not a mitigation strategy free of pitfalls.
By 2050, according to the United Nations, there will be 2.6 billion more people living in cities. Scientists know that this urbanization will alter regional climate, even if the effect of climate change itself is neglected. One reason is that urban areas are “heat islands” compared with their rural counterparts: roads, paved areas and buildings retain heat, raising regional temperatures, particularly at night. In addition, there tends to be a greater number of anthropogenic sources of heat, such as air-conditioning units, in cities. […]
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