According to the study report the urban heat island effects has been observed to raise the temperature of cities by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius compared to neighboring rural and semi- rural areas. The rise in temperatures has others reasons also like presence of Asphalt, concrete, steel and concrete with other surfaces that absorbs heat and affect the natural cooling effect provided by the vegetation.
The scarcity of green cover is a major factor in urban heating. NASA has used multiple satellites, researchers to conduct this study for the urban areas and their surroundings in US and found that those areas which are covered in part by impervious surfaces in the cities and suburbs had an average summer temperature 1.9 degrees Celsius as compared to other surrounding rural areas.
Even in winters the difference of temperature was of 1.5 degrees Celsius. It was also found that the greenhouse gas emissions do not have any relation to this higher temperature.
The amount and type of vegetation also plays a big role in the regulating the urban heat effect.
