Table 1: Urban and suburban characteristics important to UHI formation and their effect on the energy balance of the earth’s surface [11].

Characteristic contributing to UHI formation Effect on the energy balance Lack of vegetation Reduced evaporation Widespread use of impermeable surfaces Reduced evaporation Increased thermal diffusivity of urban materials Increased heat storage Low solar reflectance of urban materials Increased net radiation Urban geometries that trap heat Increased net radiation Urban geometries that slow wind speeds Reduced convection Increased levels of air pollution Increased net radiation Increased energy use Increased anthropogenic heat