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Urban environmental affects
Name: Nancy Brashears
Status: Other
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
With cities (and urban areas in general) there is obviously a greater
concentration of people and human activities. What effect does this activity
have on the environment? For example, with vehicles burning fuel, this must
increase the ambient temperature. With buildings blocking the wind, this must
also diminish the heat loss. With the caverns created by the buildings, this
must trap the radiation from the sun. With the decrease in vegetation, the
plants are not converting the radiation to cellulose. How significant are
these affects and are there any others that affect the energy consumption and
general environment in those areas?
Replies:
Fortunately, urban structures have a profound effect on the local environment
- that is why we build them. Without shelter, life would be pretty hard in
Chicago. You are right to point out that buildings and cities can have
negative effects too - such as smog, water pollution from urban runoff, and
negative social, psychological and health impacts of over-crowding such as
crime, stress, and infectious disease epidemics.
Mortis
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Update: June 2012
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