heat island

[ heet ahy-luhnd ]

noun

1. an urban area having a higher average temperature than its rural surroundings owing to the greater absorption, retention, and generation of heat by its buildings, pavements, and human activities.

heat-island

noun

1. meteorol the mass of air over a large city, characteristically having a slightly higher average temperature than that of the surrounding air

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat island¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

It’s called the heat island effect, where the effect of rising temperatures is worsened when the heat and sunlight are amplified and reflected back into the environment by the concrete, cement and glass used to build structures.

From BBC

That’s created a heat island effect that’s raised local temperatures by several degrees on top of global warming, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

“If we reduce the size of roads considerably and devote more of what’s there to bicycle transportation and buses and public transportation, we will be mitigating the urban heat island,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

Trees also help counteract the urban heat island effect, by which concrete, brick, asphalt and other hard surfaces absorb and reflect heat, increasing local temperatures by as much as 7 degrees.

From Los Angeles Times

“We should no longer look at it as something that’s nice to have, and not even as just the lungs of the city. It actually reduces the temperature and the urban heat island like no other solution.”

From Los Angeles Times