Question

On a summer afternoon, the centre of a large city can be several degrees warmer than the farmland just beyond its edge. Scientists call this the urban heat island effect. Concrete, asphalt and brick absorb sunlight during the day and release the stored heat slowly after sunset, so cities cool far less at night than the countryside does. Air conditioners add to the problem by pumping warm air out of buildings onto the streets, and the scarcity of trees means there is little shade or evaporation to cool the air. The consequences are not merely uncomfortable. Hot nights prevent the body from recovering from daytime heat, which is why heatwaves are especially dangerous for elderly residents of crowded neighbourhoods. Some remedies are surprisingly simple. Painting roofs white reflects a large share of incoming sunlight, and rooms beneath such roofs can be a few degrees cooler. Planting trees along streets and protecting existing lakes also help. None of these measures can reverse the effect entirely, but together they can make the difference between a hot night and a deadly one. According to the passage, why do cities cool less at night than the countryside?

Accepted Answer

Building materials release heat they stored during the day slowly after sunset

Answer

Cities receive more sunlight than farmland does

Answer

Air conditioners are switched off at night

Answer

Lakes in cities trap warm air after dark

According to the passage, why do cities cool less at night than the countryside?

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