Urban areas ‘getting hotter faster’

A combination of climate change and urban growth will push temperatures higher in cities worldwide, say researchers. Dr Richard Betts, a climate scientist at the UK’s Met Office, and colleagues, report their findings in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Betts and colleagues found not only do cities retain more heat than rural areas do but hot cities will grow even hotter as the climate warms and cities grow. By mid-century, night-time temperatures in cities could rise by more than 5.6°C, they say.

To find out more read Emily Sohn’s full ABC Science article.