True or False?
Urban areas have more trees than surrounding rural areas.
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True or False?
Urban areas have more trees than surrounding rural areas.
False.
Cities have fewer trees than surrounding rural areas.
Define the term microclimate.
A microclimate is the distinctive climate of a small-scale area, such as a city or neighbourhood.
What are the two levels within urban microclimate domes?
The two levels within urban microclimate domes are the urban canopy and the urban boundary.
True or False?
Urban areas experience more frosts than rural areas.
False.
Urban areas experience 2–3 weeks fewer frosts than rural areas.
What is the urban canopy?
The urban canopy is the layer where processes act in the spaces between buildings below roof level.
Define the urban boundary.
The urban canopy is the layer between buildings, below roof level.
Define the urban boundary.
The urban boundary is the layer above roof level and it extends downwind as a plume into the surrounding rural areas.
What effect do dark rooftops and pavements have on urban microclimates?
Dark rooftops and dark pavement absorb more solar radiation, contributing to higher temperatures in urban areas.
True or False?
Urban areas have higher relative humidity than rural areas.
False.
Urban areas have lower relative humidity compared to rural areas.
What percentage more cloud cover do urban areas typically have compared to rural areas?
Urban areas typically have 5–10% more cloud cover than rural areas.
What is the effect of tall buildings on urban microclimates?
Tall buildings reflect and absorb sunlight, contributing to the urban microclimate.
How does poor building insulation affect urban microclimates?
Poor building insulation results in the release of heat at night, contributing to the urban heat island effect.
What is the urban heat island (UHI) effect?
The urban heat island effect occurs when the air in urban areas is 2–5°C warmer than in nearby rural areas.
Define the term temperature sink.
A temperature sink is an area within an urban heat island where temperatures are lower. They are typically found above green spaces and water bodies like parks and lakes.
What is a temperature cliff?
A temperature cliff occurs when temperatures change rapidly from one land use to another, such as from suburban housing to high-rise inner city buildings.
True or False?
Urban areas have a smaller diurnal temperature range compared to rural areas.
False.
Urban areas have a larger diurnal temperature range compared to rural areas.
What is the primary cause of increased cloud coverage in urban areas?
The primary cause of increased cloud coverage in urban areas is a greater concentration of condensation nuclei on buildings.
Define advection fog.
Advection fog is formed when warm, moist air moves horizontally over a cold surface.
What is radiative fog?
Radiative fog, also known as ground fog, is formed by the radiative cooling at the surface during long, clear, cold nights with light winds.
How do urban areas affect thunderstorm frequency?
Urban areas increase thunderstorm frequency by about 25%.
What is the canyon effect in urban wind patterns?
The canyon effect occurs when wind is channelled down streets, creating powerful gusts.
Define vortices in the context of urban wind patterns.
Vortices are bodies of swirling air created due to the flow of wind around buildings.
What is photochemical smog?
Photochemical smog occurs when sunlight reacts with chemical pollutants in the atmosphere, breaking them down into secondary, harmful chemicals.
True or False?
Urban wind speeds are generally higher than rural wind speeds.
False.
Rural wind speeds are generally higher than urban wind speeds due to smoother ground surfaces.
What are photocatalytic materials?
Photocatalytic materials, also known as smog-eating materials, are substances that use sunlight to convert pollutants into less harmful substances.
What is Tiocem?
Tiocem is a self-cleaning photocatalytic concrete that has titanium dioxide mixed in and is capable of breaking down nitric and nitrogen oxides when exposed to sunlight.
What is the purpose of a smog-free tower?
A smog-free tower is an air purifying tower that sucks in pollution and expels clean air.
True or False?
Self-driving cars are expected to worsen fuel efficiency.
False.
Studies estimate that self-driving vehicles could improve fuel efficiency by 15–40%.
What is LPG in the context of alternative fuels?
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is a by-product of the crude oil refining process and is considered to have a relatively low environmental impact when used as a vehicle fuel.
Define GTL fuel.
GTL (gas-to-liquid) fuel is a synthetic fuel developed as a replacement for diesel, requiring no engine modification and showing reduced emissions.
What is a congestion charge?
A congestion charge is a fee for using vehicles in certain places at certain times, aimed at reducing traffic and pollution in urban areas.
Define park and ride.
Park and ride is a system where drivers leave their cars in parking lots on the outskirts of a city and use public transportation to reach the city centre.
What is the purpose of the MOT emissions test?
The MOT emissions test is a mandatory test in the UK that all vehicles must pass to be allowed on the roads, aimed at controlling vehicle emissions.
What is the purpose of the UK Clean Air Act of 1956 and 1968?
The UK Clean Air Acts of 1956 and 1968 aimed to reduce domestic pollution through the introduction of smoke-free zones.
True or False?
All countries in the world have legally mandated standards for outdoor air quality.
False.
According to the UN, one in three countries in the world lack any legally mandated standards for outdoor air quality.
What is IPPC in the context of pollution control?
IPPC stands for Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, a regulatory system set up under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act of 1999 to regulate industrial emissions.