Case study: candidates must study an urban area which shows the effects of human activity
on climate: temperature (heat island), humidity, precipitation and winds.
Vancouver heat island and micro climates
- Vancouver is Canadas third largest city.
- it is open to the sea but backed by mountain broken by the valley of the Fraser river,
which enters to the eat of the city
heat island
on sunny summer days a surface temperature traverse across the city shows a
marked heat island
the sea has the lowest temperature, followed by the river.
Stanley park also has relatively cool temperatures, similar to those in the rural
farmland of the Fraser valley.
The international airport records higher temperature than the well-vegetated
Stanley park because of the terminal buildings and runways.
Temperatures are higher in the suburbs of west Vancouver and surrey
But the ‘dome’ of the heat island is centred on the downtown (CBD) area
This is due to the high density of skyscrapers
Temperatures near the coast can be 5-10C cooler due to the sea breeze in the
summer
Whereas the inland areas are about 2C cooler in winter
Steep rise in temperature at the edge of the built-up area
Temperatures increase gradually till it peaks at the CBD
All larger urban areas have earlier springs, later autumns and fewer frosts than the
nearby rural areas
Brick, concreate and dark tarmac surfaces have a large specific heat capacity and low
albedos
on climate: temperature (heat island), humidity, precipitation and winds.
Vancouver heat island and micro climates
- Vancouver is Canadas third largest city.
- it is open to the sea but backed by mountain broken by the valley of the Fraser river,
which enters to the eat of the city
heat island
on sunny summer days a surface temperature traverse across the city shows a
marked heat island
the sea has the lowest temperature, followed by the river.
Stanley park also has relatively cool temperatures, similar to those in the rural
farmland of the Fraser valley.
The international airport records higher temperature than the well-vegetated
Stanley park because of the terminal buildings and runways.
Temperatures are higher in the suburbs of west Vancouver and surrey
But the ‘dome’ of the heat island is centred on the downtown (CBD) area
This is due to the high density of skyscrapers
Temperatures near the coast can be 5-10C cooler due to the sea breeze in the
summer
Whereas the inland areas are about 2C cooler in winter
Steep rise in temperature at the edge of the built-up area
Temperatures increase gradually till it peaks at the CBD
All larger urban areas have earlier springs, later autumns and fewer frosts than the
nearby rural areas
Brick, concreate and dark tarmac surfaces have a large specific heat capacity and low
albedos
