What Makes Cities So Hot?

Name: What Makes Cities So Hot?
Uploaded: 2021-02-10T00:00:00+00:00
Description: Cities are often several degrees warmer than surrounding areas — a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect. This animated science video for children ages 5–10 explains how replacing vegetation with asphalt and concrete traps heat, how waste heat from vehicles and air conditioners makes it worse, and what simple solutions like reflective roofs and shade trees can do to cool cities down.

This video is a part of Animated Atmosphere, a suite of short videos produced by the UCAR Center for Science Education with FableVision Studios.

A city can be several degrees warmer than the surrounding area. Learn how this phenomenon, called the urban heat island effect, occurs and find out what can be done to keep cities cool.

Transcript

[0:05] Is there anything more wonderful than a relaxing tropical island?

[0:09] Well, we're talking about a different kind of island — urban heat islands.

[0:12] Urban heat islands are areas in cities that have significantly higher temperatures than their surroundings.

[0:17] Heat islands form as the vegetation that provides shade and natural cooling is replaced by asphalt and concrete for roads and buildings.

[0:23] These materials absorb the sun's heat and release it into the air, causing temperatures to rise.

[0:29] Waste heat from vehicles, factories, and air conditioners also adds to the heat island effect.

[0:33] Using reflective roof materials and planting shade trees help reduce the heat.