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Urban heat islands form when asphalt, concrete, dark roofs and sparse shade absorb and release heat, making some neighbourhoods hotter than their surroundings.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

ScienceHealthClimateArchitecture

Why it matters

The idea in context

Urban heat is not distributed like weather on a map. A shaded street, a dark roof and a wide road can produce different bodily experiences within the same city. Heat islands turn planning choices into public health: who gets trees, who gets breeze, and who must carry the stored heat of concrete after sunset.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Şehir sıcağı yalnız havadan gelmez. Asfalt, beton, koyu çatılar ve gölgesiz sokaklar ısıyı tutar; bazı mahalleler bu yüzden çevresinden daha sıcak yaşar.

Aynı şehirde iki sokak arasında bile hissedilir fark oluşabilir: Birinde ağaç gölgesi ve hava akışı vardır, diğerinde gün boyu ısınmış beton akşam da sıcaklık salar. Isı adası, planlama kararlarının bedene değen sonucudur. Kimin serinliği, kimin beklemek zorunda kaldığı sıcaklığı olduğu burada görünür hâle gelir.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

EPA describes heat islands as developed areas or parts of a city experiencing higher temperatures, and identifies cooling strategies such as trees, vegetation and green roofs. Sources: https://www.epa.gov/heatislands ; https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-heat-islands ; audited 2026-07-07.

Background reading: Urban heat islandAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
Open in the iPhone appEditorial method

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