By 2100, a new model estimates that cities worldwide could warm by 4.4 degrees Celsius -- a life-threatening consequence of the heat-island effect.
What is the Heat-Island Effect?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, heat-islands are highly urbanized areas and cities that experience higher temperatures than their counterparts. Roads, buildings, and other structures absorb and re-emit the sun's heat far more than natural landscapes such as water bodies and forests.
Highly condensed and structured with little greenery become "islands" of elevated temperatures relative to outlying areas. The islands are created when natural vegetation is replaced by asphalt for buildings and roads.
The "heat" is created by energy from human activity such as transportation and construction, says National Geographic.
It's no secret that urbanization has played a significant role in the climate crisis. As anthropogenic activities increase with economic development, more and more scientists are turning to urbanized cities to understand the rapidly growing effects of climate change.
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How will a 4.4 Degrees Celcius Increase In Temperature Affect the World?
According to an international team of researchers, a new model used estimated that cities worldwide would have a temperature increase of 4.4 degrees Celcius. Compared to the Paris Agreements' optimistic goal for a global temperature rise of about 1.5 degrees celsius.
Urban cities are where major human climate change impacts will occur. The research concludes that despite occupying 3% of the planet's land surface, cities accommodate more than 50% of the world's population, estimated to increase up to 70% by 2050.
The model suggests that as cities get hotter, the urban public health is set to feel most of the catastrophic effects.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 166,000 people from across the globe have died due to heatwaves from 1998-2017. In the heatwave in Europe back in 2003, 70,000 deaths were recorded.
Because of the onslaught of climate change, an increase of around 125 million people exposed to heatwaves occurred between 2000-2016.
Green Facts Organization says a global increase in temperature of 4.4 degrees celsius is close to the temperature difference between the present and the last ice age. This is why scientists are scrambling to find a breakthrough in preventing further damage to the environment.
The dire situation could result in the inundation of coastal cities, unprecedented heatwaves in various regions, especially tropical areas, significant worsening of water scarcity across the globe.
The current global temperature has increased by 0.8 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial age.
The warming of 4.4 degrees celsius by 2100 sounds small however it will increase oceanic acidity, irreversible loss of biodiversity, and more.
Today, scientists have recorded adverse effects of ocean acidification and rising sea-levels in coral reefs that are particularly sensitive to change in pH levels and water temperature.
To calculate the rise in urban temperatures, the team built a statistical model concentrating on urban regions and their temperature and humidity changes over time.
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