Denver’s “Heat Island” Effect Boosts City Temperatures by Over 5 Degrees
Sourced from Denverite
The hottest spot around Denver is still the city itself.
A Climate Central report released Tuesday shows that Denver is, on average, 5 degrees hotter than its surrounding areas. Researchers calculated temperatures across the entire city, so specific areas like RiNo or Stapleton may experience even more heat.
The findings show highly developed urban areas can experience mid-afternoon temperatures that are 15°F to 20°F warmer than the surrounding, more vegetated areas. And, with climate change worsening extreme heat events, the city can only expect these numbers to increase.
The nonprofit news organization reports on climate science, and their report tracked temperatures in 158 cities. Some of the factors they used to measure heat intensity include how reflective versus absorbent city spaces are, how much land cover is green space and permeable, as well as building height and density, which can affect airflow and heat dispersal within a city.
Denver’s ranking wasn’t terrible compared to all 158 cities, putting it on par with places like Cheyenne, Wyoming and Colorado Springs. The city’s low-lying scrub brush was actually beneficial for dispersing heat, and the city’s albedo (or the amount of land that reflects instead of absorbing heat) was good – despite the fact that the city’s green roof initiative has had a rocky start.
From the Living Architecture Monitor
