Read the passage excerpt and answer the question:
'Urban heat islands (UHIs) emerge where dense concentrations of pavement and buildings absorb and retain solar radiation, resulting in ambient temperatures 2 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than surrounding rural peripheries. Mitigating this phenomenon requires retrofitting architectural surfaces with high-albedo reflective coatings and integrating biophilic green infrastructure, such as extensive green roofs and permeable tree canopies.'
According to the passage, what is the primary thermodynamic cause of urban heat islands?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Thermal absorption and retention by dense artificial structures and pavements
- Step 1: The passage explicitly identifies the mechanism: UHIs emerge where 'dense concentrations of pavement and buildings absorb and retain solar radiation'.
- Step 2: This physical absorption and retention of solar heat by built surfaces creates elevated ambient temperatures.
Answer
Thermal absorption and retention by dense artificial structures and pavements.
Why not the others: 'Excessive reliance on industrial geothermal heating installations' is not mentioned anywhere in the excerpt; 'The total elimination of suburban transportation networks' is counter-factual and unsupported; 'Atmospheric greenhouse gas accumulation exclusively above metropolitan areas' misattributes microclimate surface albedo effects to local greenhouse gas columns.
Practise more Academic Reading: Global Ecology and Urban Planning.
Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed IELTS mock tests.
More Academic Reading: Global Ecology and Urban Planning questions
- Based on the excerpt above, what intervention is recommended to counter the urban heat island effect?
- Read the passage excerpt and answer the question:
'Mangrove forests inhabit intertidal coastal zones, functioning as highly efficient carbo… - In the context of the mangrove passage, what prevents sequestered carbon from rapidly returning to the atmosphere?
- Read the passage excerpt:
'The 15-minute city model, pioneered by urban scholar Carlos Moreno, posits that urban quarters should be designe… - According to the 15-minute city text, how does the model achieve substantial emissions reductions?
- Read the passage excerpt:
'Wetland ecosystems act as nature’s biological kidneys, filtering suspended particulates, heavy metals, and exces…