Dr. Ariane Middel: Urban heat islands

ANCHOR
WE’RE ALL FEELING THE HEAT THIS SUMMER… BUT IF YOU LIVE IN A BIG CITY… YOU’RE LIKELY FEELING IT EVEN MORE.
THAT’S BECAUSE OF WHAT’S CALLED THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.

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SO WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN?
DOCTOR ARIANE MIDDEL (AIR-ee-on MIH-dell)… ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY… SAYS THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT HAPPENS WHEN SURFACES LIKE ASPHALT… CONCRETE… AND STEEL ABSORB HEAT FROM THE SUN… THEN RELEASE IT… MAKING CITIES MUCH WARMER THAN NEARBY RURAL AREAS.
SHE SAYS WE CAN COOL CITIES DOWN BY PLANTING MORE TREES… INSTALLING REFELCTIVE ROOFS TO BUILDINGS… AND REPLACING PAVEMENT WITH GRAVEL OR GRASS.
BUT DOCTOR MIDDEL SAYS SOLUTIONS NEED TO GO BEYOND JUST TEMPERATURE.

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Duration: 0:30
Super: Dr. Ariane Middel – Associate Professor, Arizona State University
“The impact of urban heat is not really felt equally throughout the city. So historically underserved neighborhoods often have fewer trees, more pavement, older infrastructure, and less access to cooling amenities. So urban heat isn’t only a climate and health challenge, it also raises questions about equity and environmental justice. So, in the end, addressing urban heat means investing in communities, rethinking design, and really ensuring that everybody has access to cooler, safer environments.”