What is the Urban Heat Island effect?

The Urban Heat Island effect refers to the phenomenon where urban or metropolitan areas experience significantly higher temperatures than their surrounding rural areas. This temperature difference is primarily due to human activities and the characteristics of urban environments, such as the increased presence of heat-absorbing materials like asphalt and concrete, fewer trees and vegetative cover, and significant energy consumption that contributes additional heat.

As urban areas expand, they create microclimates that trap heat. Buildings, roads, and other infrastructures absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night, resulting in warmer nighttime temperatures in cities compared to the cooler surroundings. This heat retention has a considerable impact on local weather, energy consumption, and air quality and can exacerbate heat-related health problems.

Recognizing choice B as the correct answer highlights the specific, measurable differences in temperature between urban and rural environments that define the Urban Heat Island effect.