Think About The Earth

Cities in Hot Seat (2 of 2) August 31, 2009

Hot and Cool Places

The UP scientists found out that the hottest place in Metro Manila as seen by the satellite images is the Makati Central Business District.  Other hot places are the Ortigas commercial area,  Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Metro Rail Transit North, Port Area, and Chinese Cemetery.

Areas that are relatively cool are Wack-Wack Golf Course, Camp Aguinaldo, Manila Seedling Bank, Sta. Ana Racetrack, Villamor Golf Course, and the University of the Philippines campus.  This is expected because these areas have wide open spaces and vegetation.

Global Warming Connection

In temperate countries, cities may benefit from the effect of heat islands during winter.  A warmer temperature means people don’t have to use heaters anymore.  It also means the ice and snow on roads will just melt away.

But in summer, the same city will experience the negative effects of heat islands; increased demand for air conditioning, air pollution, green gas emissions, and heat-related illness and mortality, as well as reduced thermal comfort.  Although heat island can be an advantage in winter, its harmful impact during summer is greater than its wintertime benefits.

While UHI and global warming are two distinct phenomena, UHI may contribute to global warming as a result of the increased demand for air conditioning increases power plant emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.  Thus, strategies to reduce UHI can also help reduce global warming.

Fighting UHI

Metro Manila is a heat sink and has become a very uncomfortable place.  Increasing the amount of vegetation in Metro Manila will help reduce the heat island effect.  One way to do this is to make roof gardens and grow plants in backyards.  The best long-term solution so far is to decongest Metro Manila by moving major institutions and key facilities always from the nation’s capital 

Sources: 

► Heat Island Effect, Basic Information. www.epa.gov/hiri/about/index.html

►Lagmay, Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. UP study confirms Metro Manila getting hotter. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=63824