Urban heat islands (UHI) are metropolitan areas with higher temperatures than that of the surrounding environment. The higher temperatures are a result of increased absorption of the Solar light by urban materials such as asphalt and concrete, which have lower albedos and higher heat capacities than those in the natural environment. A straightforward method of counteracting the UHI effect is to paint buildings and roads white and plant trees. Using these methods, a hypothetical "cool communities" program in Los Angeles has projected that urban temperatures could be reduced by approximately 3 °C at an estimated cost of US$1 billion, giving estimated total annual benefits of US$530 million from reduced air-conditioning costs and healthcare savings. COUNT 5
QSN1 UHI is an abbreviation of what? ANS1 Urban heat islands QSN2 A program in Los Angeles believes that with $1 billion, city temperatures could be reduced by approximately how many degrees in Celsius? ANS2 3 QSN3 What are the metropolitan areas with higher temperatures than the surrounding areas called? ANS3 Urban heat islands QSN4 What materials absorb sunlight and create higher temperatures than natural materials? ANS4 asphalt and concrete QSN5 What is a way to reduce the high temperatures created in urban heat islands? ANS5 paint buildings and roads white and plant trees