Urban heat island

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Revision as of 14:15, 26 January 2009 by imported>Ed Poor (gradual accumulation of warming)
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The term "heat island" describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas. The annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings. {http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/index.htm] This temperature gradient can gradually increase; for example, from 1945 to 1990 San Antonio has apparently gotten 3°C warmer than nearby New Braunfels. [1]