Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
Q2. What is the Urban Heat Island effect? Discuss its main drivers in the context of Indian urban environments. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: TH
Why the question
Urban heat is emerging as a major environmental hazard due to unplanned urbanisation, with recent data showing increasing temperature disparities between Indian cities and their rural surroundings.Key demand of the question
The question asks for a concise explanation of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon and an analysis of the major geographical and anthropogenic drivers behind its intensification in Indian cities.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Briefly define UHI and mention its growing relevance due to extreme heat events in Indian cities.Body
- Define the Urban Heat Island effect and distinguish it from general heat waves.
- Mention major causes such as loss of vegetation, urban morphology, material use, and anthropogenic heat release.
Conclusion
Suggest the importance of climate-responsive planning and blending traditional cooling strategies with modern solutions.
