Causes 1) A number of factors contribute to UHI development. Most result from re

Question

Causes

1) A number of factors contribute to UHI development. Most result from replacing natural land cover with artificial ones, and activity in the city. For the three factors listed below, 3 reasons are provided of why these things could contribute to the UHI. Two of them actually do contribute to UHI, while one does not. Choose the one that does NOT in the ELMS Lab 3 Answer Sheet.

1A) Physical properties of construction materials

A.Construction materials tend to have low albedo, which allows them to absorb much of the solar radiation that hits them.

B.Many construction materials tend to maintain their heat for long periods of time and slowly release this energy throughout the night.

C.Construction materials, such as aluminum and streel, have a high albedo. This allows insolation to reflect away from the city.

1B) Decreased evapotranspiration

A. Evapotranspiration is a cooling process since it absorbs latent heat energy from the surrounding environment. If this energy is not consumed as latent heat, it contributes to sensible heat in the local energy balance.

B. The increase of regular evaporation makes the air very humid – resulting in a higher sensible heat.

C. A lack of plants and green spaces in cities contributes to reduced evapotranspiration, which allows for less of a cooling process to occur.

1C) Anthropogenic heat sources

A. Direct sensible heat inputs from automobiles, factories, and appliances contribute to the warmth in urban areas.

B. Body heat, which is higher in cities due to higher population density, can also contribute to warming.

C. The heavy use of refrigerators and freezers somewhat slows the rate of warming in urban areas.

Richmond, Kentucky

2) We will be working with data from two weather stations in Richmond, KY. Station #1 is located behind City Hall (37.7487°N, 84.2952°W) and is representative of Richmond’s urban environment. Station #2 is located east of downtown at Meadowbrook Farm (37.7147°N, 84.1560°W) and is representative of the rural environment outside of Richmond. The south of the City Hall weather station is the City Hall Parking Lot, and west of the Medowbrook weather station is a barn. You can search relevant site photos online.

Open Google Earth and type each station’s coordinates into the “Fly To” area. Take special note of the land use/land cover in the vicinity of each station and consider how each station’s surroundings will affect local temperatures.

2A) What features near City Hall do you see that will contribute to the urban heat island effect?

2B) Meadowbrook Farm is in a rural area and does not contain features that will contribute to the urban heat island effect. Choose the Google Earth Ruler () tool. Using the ruler tool, estimate how far the weather station is from the nearest asphalt/pavement. Report in meters.

2C) Using the ruler tool again, estimate how far the two stations are from one another. You can save a pin (meaning that when you search for another location you will still see the old pin) by clicking the Save to My Places button in the Search Panel (). Report in miles.

Explanation / Answer

1A) C. The steel and aluminum in practice have lower albedo, in some cases lower than soil

1B) B. If the evapotranspiration is occurring then the energy is used as latent heat so the sensible heat will be less.

1C) C. The refrigerator doesn't change the city warming rate as it cools only the closed area.

Please ask the next question in separate questionnaire.

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