Potential Impacts Of The Urban Heat Island In The DC Area Essay Samples
Type of paper: Essay
Topic: Solar Energy, Heat, Urbanization, City, Town, Solar Radiation, Nuclear Weapon, Atomic Bomb
Pages: 2
Words: 550
Published: 2020/11/17
Solar Energy Absorption and Reflection on Earth
Percentage of solar radiation absorbed by earth’s surface
Percentage of solar radiation emitted or reflected back to the atmosphere
The systems, mechanisms, or mediums through which solar radiation passes or reflects back to the atmosphere
The Concept of the Urban Heat Island
Definition of albedo
Effect of high or low albedo in the absorption of solar energy
Identification of albedo properties in urban communities
Link between albedo in urban communities and heat or temperature
Washington DC is an example of an urban heat island
Impact of Urban Heat Island in the DC Area
Consumption of energy due to high temperature (e.g. use of air conditioner, central heating or cooling system)
Effect of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions and the absorption of solar radiation in earth’s surface
High temperature leading to the growth of bacteria, etc.
Heat stress resulting from dark albedo over homes, trapping heat inside houses and affecting the health and wellbeing of residents in urban heat islands such as DC
Low albedo in poor communities due to dark roofing
Effect of changing weather and temperature patterns on water supply
Consequent effect of water supply on quality of soil
Identifying Mitigation Strategies
Use of cooling materials in road construction, housing, etc.
Use of materials based on albedo
Planting trees and plants
Works Cited
Kauffman, C. M. Climate Studies: Our Changing Climate: Introduction to Climate Science. Washington, DC: American Meteorological Society, 2014.
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