Is There a Heat Island Effect at Edgewood?

I compared temperature data from a vegetated area of campus and from the parking lot to see if there was a discrepancy between the two on the same days and times. I also examined data from different seasons.

• There did seem to be a consistent discrepancy between the two.
• The parking lot tended to remain warmer than the vegetated area.
• This was most evident in the summer and during the day.

Link to graphs of Edgewood data (broken link)

What Is a Heat Island?
A heat island is an area, typically an urban one, that is warmer than areas that surround it.

What Causes a Heat Island Effect?

• Lack of Vegetation
• Pavement and buildings made of dark materials which easily absorb heat
• When a heat island already exists the higher temperatures can assist a further increase in temperature

Conclusions and Implications

• There does seem to be a small microclimate heat island effect at Edgewood.
• This may not be tremendously significant in and of itself but it may contribute to a larger scale heat island effect.
• Heat Islands are expensive. It is estimated that as a group people in Los Angeles pays an extra $100 million per year on power costs to counter high temperatures brought on by a city heat island.
• Heat islands contribute to smog

What Can Be Done

• Heat islands can be prevented by strategically placed vegetation
• Heat islands can be prevented by using reflective materials in buildings and pavement.

Heat Island Information Sources

• The Heat Island Group http://eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/
• Previous student display on heat islands (no link)
• Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/landuse/urbanfor.shtml