Cities hotter than rural areas

Carol Forsloff - High temperatures all around the world are becoming more and more frequent, especially in summer; and cities get the bulk of it, according to new research from Environmental Health Perspectives.

"Extreme heat events are becoming more and more frequent in large United States cities.  Furthermore there are a greater annual number of heat-related deaths on average than any other form of extreme weather." researchers report.

The study goes on to say that in addition, low density, sprawling patterns of urban development in cities have been associated with enhanced surface temperatures in urbanized areas.

This recent study examined the the association between cities and extreme heat over a five year period.

Researchers set up a widely published metric of urban form (a “sprawl” index) to measure the association between urban form in 2000 and the mean annual rate of change in extreme heat events between 1956 and 2005.

Results of the study found the rate of increase in the annual number of extreme heat events between 1956 and 2005 in the most sprawling metropolitan regions to be more than double the rate of increase observed in the most compact metropolitan regions.

While people the world over express concerns over climate change, many are particularly concerned about the plight of the most vulnerable during the warmer months.  As the earth warms, those with disabilities, children and the elderly are the ones most vulnerable to heat-related problems.  At the same time, many areas of the world are unprepared to deal with heat emergencies because the climate has changed dramatically in the past two decades.  This means new issues have arisen in the cities across the world that especially impact the population of major cities.

Researchers conclude, "The design and management of land use in metropolitan regions may offer an important tool for adapting to the heat-related health effects associated with ongoing climate change.