Urban Heat Transfer research guide: Home

This article explains how urban areas can become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings due to human activities, leading to increased energy consumption, elevated emissions of air pollutants, and higher incidences of heat-related illnesses. To combat these effects, the article provides recommendations to implement various green infrastructure strategies.

This webpage, by Resources for the Future, examines how urban heat islands (UHIs) lead to increased temperatures in cities, describes the resulting impacts on various communities, and lays out strategies to mitigate these effects.

Urban Forestry Manager Nilanjana Saha from the organization "One Tree Planted" explains the heat island effect in this short, simple video. She reviews how the design and activities of cities amp up the effect, and how humans can mitigate the effect through green roofs, green spaces, and smart investment. The video highlights one project at a school in Phoenix, Arizona.

The EPA explains how green roofs, or rooftop gardens are designed and how they work to remove heat from the air and reduce both roof surface and surrounding air temperatures. It also reviews the benefits green roofs offer, such as reduced energy consumption for cooling, improved storm water management, and enhanced urban biodiversity.

Green Roofs for Health Cities is a non-profit business organization that tries to raise awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roofs, green walls, and other forms of living architecture through education, advocacy, and training. This page provides an intro to green roofs.

This short article from EdSpaces, an annual event that aims to transform learning environments, explains the benefits of green roofs to the school community and to student physical/mental health.

At Michigan State University, professors and students have developed green roofs all over campus. This article provides guidance on how and why green roofs matter, and includes a table of dozens of possible green roof plants and their characteristics.

This is just a short video with drone footage of a new green roof at Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School, in Atlanta, GA. I include it for inspiration, not information! Feel free to use it to spark further research....

This short article from the Washington Post describes the "heat island effect" in 9 major U.S. cities, according to a report by Climate Central, a nonprofit science and news organization.

The Nature Conservancy's "Citywide Heat Ride" StoryMap highlights Philadelphia's urban heat mapping efforts, emphasizing the critical need for increased tree coverage in specific neighborhoods. By identifying areas with elevated temperatures, the project aims to influence urban planning decisions that promote environmental justice and improve rersidents' quality of life.

The World Health Organization reviews key facts about heat and health including who's most at risk and how to protect yourself.

Excellent resource on the dangers of heat on human health and the environment, with a specific section on the dangers posed by cities.