Urban Heat Island

Higher land surface temperatures in developed urban areas compared to the surrounding, less developed terrain.

The purpose of this task is for students to demonstrate their ability to analyze the scientific problem of urban heat islands and construct a model to explain a solution to the problem through the creation of a cool zone. Students will start by analyzing the scenario to review information about urban heat islands. In Segment 1 students will demonstrate their knowledge of energy and systems on earth and explain 5 different aspects of the urban heat island. In segment 2 students are asked to come up with a design for a cool zone in their community. In particular they are modeling one cause of the urban heat island, and then modeling one change to positively impact the environment and lower the LST. After modeling the two they are asked to explain their solution. In Segment 3 students are grouped together to incorporate multiple designs into one presentation that highlights the designs needed to be included in the community cool zone.