Various Causes of Urban Heat Islands, effects and their Mitigation Measures for Urban Ecology – A Review

Abstract

Every human activity creates various adverse effects in our environment. Rapid urbanization and increasedpopulation lead to generation of urban heat islands. It adversely affects urban ecology and creates publichealth damage. The major causes of urban heat islands are destruction of trees, low albedo materials, urbancanopy, human gathering. The increase of land surface temperature caused by urban heat island effect willdefinitely alters the urban ecological balance, atmospheric environment and their functions. Urban heatislands need to be addressed urgently. This review is an effort to understand how cities across the globeaffect urban heat and their mitigation measurements. Green cover and cool pavements are the best methodto reduce the temperature in urban areas. In this paper, we have analyzed major cause, effects and mitigationproperties.