Rapid urbanisation, congestion, more buildings and increasing
commercial activity in certain pockets of the city, has led to higher
temperature levels.
Next time you complain about the heat, you may want to
check which part of the city you are in. There is more to the soaring
mercury levels than just meteorological factors.
Rapid
urbanisation, congestion, more buildings and increasing commercial
activity in certain pockets of the city, has led to higher temperature
levels. People who live in parts of central and north Chennai experience
the heat more than those residing in suburbs with green cover.
With
mushrooming of high-rises in central and north Chennai, these parts are
congested, and the temperature shoots up quickly here. The mercury
level in these “urban heat islands” is at least three or four degrees
above the city’s average day temperature.
These were
the findings of a recent study on urban heat islands by the Centre for
Climate Change and Adaptation Research Centre, Anna University, with
support from former officials of the Regional Meteorological Centre
(RMC), Chennai.
‘Heat pockets’ are those parts of the
city that block surface heat from radiating to the sky. Aminjikarai,
Medavakkam, Perungudi, T. Nagar and Ennore are some of the city’s heat
pockets.
In Washermenpet and Anna Salai, increasing
commercial activity and almost no open space has led to a rise in
temperature levels in the range of 32.5 degree Celsius and 34.5 degree
Celsius in the early morning hours. In other localities such as Ennore,
George Town and Manali, waste energy generation from automobiles, air
conditioning and industries have turned them into heat islands that are
hotter than their surrounding areas.
J. Anushiya, who
led the 12-member team in Anna University, said: “We chose to study six
routes for three hours in the morning (from 4 a.m.) and in the
afternoon (from 1 p.m.) for a week. We covered a distance of 60 km to
100 km in each route.” The teams observed 107 sites across the city.
The
month of May was chosen as it was an apt period to study the prevalence
of heat pockets. The average maximum temperature for the week was
between 31.5 degree Celsius and 33 degree Celsius in the morning and
between 36 degree Celsius and 44 degree Celsius in the afternoon.
The teams used a whirling thermometer calibrated with instruments at the RMC, Chennai.
People
living in areas including Anna Nagar, Basin Bridge, Pulianthope,
Chromepet, Velachery, Kodambakkam, Porur and Nungambakkam are better off
— their areas fall in the category of those with moderate temperature
level. The mercury level ranged from 31.5 degree Celsius to 32.5 degree
Celsius here.
Other parts of the city where the
weather is pleasant include Alamathi, Adyar, Tambaram, Vandalur, the Raj
Bhavan area and Avadi, thanks to green cover — these are the city’s
‘cool islands’. Their temperature levels ranged from 29.5 degree Celsius
to 31.5 degree Celsius. Areas with dense vegetation were found to be
four degree Celsius cooler.
According to
meteorological department officials and the Anna University’s survey
team, heat generated by energy usage and poor land use distribution has
led to the disparity in temperature levels.
More lung
spaces in the city, stringent land use management and monitoring of
green house gases emission could help mitigate the effects of climate
change. Residents could use light-coloured roofs and surfaces in urban
areas, which absorb less heat, they said.
The team now wants to carry out a survey during other seasons to study the changing weather patterns in the city.
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