What is the Urban Heat Island effect? Discuss its main drivers in the context of Indian urban environments.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Q2. What is the Urban Heat Island effect? Discuss its main drivers in the context of Indian urban environments. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: TH
Why the question Urban heat is emerging as a major environmental hazard due to unplanned urbanisation, with recent data showing increasing temperature disparities between Indian cities and their rural surroundings. Key demand of the question The question asks for a concise explanation of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon and an analysis of the major geographical and anthropogenic drivers behind its intensification in Indian cities. Structure of the Answer: Introduction Briefly define UHI and mention its growing relevance due to extreme heat events in Indian cities. Body Define the Urban Heat Island effect and distinguish it from general heat waves. Mention major causes such as loss of vegetation, urban morphology, material use, and anthropogenic heat release. Conclusion Suggest the importance of climate-responsive planning and blending traditional cooling strategies with modern solutions.
Why the question Urban heat is emerging as a major environmental hazard due to unplanned urbanisation, with recent data showing increasing temperature disparities between Indian cities and their rural surroundings.
Key demand of the question The question asks for a concise explanation of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon and an analysis of the major geographical and anthropogenic drivers behind its intensification in Indian cities.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction Briefly define UHI and mention its growing relevance due to extreme heat events in Indian cities.
• Define the Urban Heat Island effect and distinguish it from general heat waves.
• Mention major causes such as loss of vegetation, urban morphology, material use, and anthropogenic heat release.
Conclusion Suggest the importance of climate-responsive planning and blending traditional cooling strategies with modern solutions.