Read And Answer

Resource: Energy. In warm climates like Phoenix, not being able to cool effectively at night has negative consequences for human health and comfort. This drives an increase in energy consumption as electric air conditioners are the main tool used to cool buildings and structures. A feedback loop is then created that helps perpetuates the heat island. Air conditioners expel hot air as they operate, which in turn contributes to warmer air temperatures, forcing even more energy usage.

3) WHO are the primary stakeholders or key players (people and/or organizations) driving this issue (or attempting to mitigate the issue) and WHAT are they doing?

Key Player: Phoenix Mayor and Council. The City of Phoenix was named as a finalist in the 2018 Bloomberg Mayors Challenge for their HeatReady proposal. The HeatReady program will help Phoenix prepare their responses to dangerous levels of heat. Additionally, the Phoenix Council is investigating urban forestry as a mitigation technique. Trees assist heat mitigation due to shade and transpiration (evaporating water into the atmosphere, which is a cooling process).

4) HOW is society (or individuals) being impacted by this issue (positively or negatively)? Provide one example.

Society impact: Poor and homeless suffer. The people most at risk from the Urban Heat Island are those that can’t cool effectively at night. In the Phoenix area, the communities most at risk are the poor and homeless. In warm climates like Phoenix, not being able to cool effectively at night has negative consequences for human health. On average, over 100 people die from heat-related illnesses every year.

5) HOW does this issue affect extenuating environmental situations or impact other natural resources? Provide one example.

Other resource: Water. As the city warms, temperatures in urban lakes increase. Warmer lake temperatures deplete dissolved oxygen which affects aquatic organisms in the lake. Warmer air temperatures also drive additional household water usage for pools, lawns, evaporative coolers, and landscaping. Adoption of urban forestry will increase municipal water usage, as well as increase evapotransporation, increase infiltration, and decrease runoff.

6) HOW does this issue relate to a learning concept, topic, theory, or term presented in this class? Provide one example.

Concept: Urban population exceeds rural population. There is a direct relationship between population and the Urban Heat Island. Urban materials like concrete and asphalt store heat energy during the day and release it slowly at night. Globally, as more people relocate and settle in cities, the Urban Heat Island will also increase. Urban sprawl, which is a problem in Phoenix, spreads the heat island over a larger area so that larger numbers of people are impacted.

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