Review of Urban Heat Islands: Monitoring, Forecast and Impacts

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a phenomenon where higher temperatures are observed in the city centers as compared to its surrounding areas. The UHI effect has emerged as a potential hazard for rapidly urbanizing countries like India. It adversely affects energy usage, public health, economy and also contributes to climate change. This review paper presents global literature on research on the UHI phenomena, causal factors and its impact on various sectors. Rapid urbanization, economic development and climate change are key factors responsible for UHI. UHI intensity varies with climate, population density, anthropogenic heat and the green canopy, land use, and urban morphology. It calls for city-specific comprehensive studies to develop appropriate mitigation strategies. City Heat Action Plans should include measures to mitigate UHI impacts at the ward level. For this, the country needs to develop high-resolution UHI monitoring and forecasting capabilities. Mitigation and adaptation of UHI involves urban planning, green building codes, energy consumption, air pollution and would require a national plan for harmonizing UHI-related measures taken by central ministries, state governments and municipal corporations.