The Effects of Road and Other Pavement Materials on Urban Heat Island (A Case Study of Port Harcourt City)

Elenwo Ephraim Ikechukwu

doi:10.4236/jep.2015.64033

Abstract

Urban centers are consistently exhibiting higher temperature than its surrounding suburban rural areas. The large amount of heat generated from urban structures such as road materials and pavement materials and other anthropogenic heat sources are the main causes of Urban Heat Island (UHI). The sources of data for this research included primary and secondary sources. Other techniques employed for data collection were direct measurement and readings on the road and pavement materials. The research found out that, there was consistency in rising temperature at different time of the day by the different road and pavement materials. Asphalt has the greatest effect of increasing the urban temperature four degrees higher, followed by concrete, three degree rise in temperature, and earth (ordinary ground) by two degree rise and vegetation (grass) by one degree rise in temperature. The overall effect on the residents of the study area ranges from increase in hotness of the day; 44.6% respondents agrees; while 34.3% says it affects the ambient air quality of the area, and other effects such as increased ground level ozone, suffocation, sleeplessness and restlessness as a result of excessive high temperature especially at night are identified in this paper. The research recommends the review or redesigning of the entire Port Harcourt city Master Plan to make provision for creation of more green areas rather than pavements and concreted areas to reduce the effects of (UHI) and ultimately improve the comfort and living conditions of the people in a the garden city Port Harcourt.

Highlights

Since 1960 till date, for many complex and interrelated reasons cities in the developing world have experienced unprecedented growth Mabojunje [1]
Heat re-radiated by urban structures road materials and pavement materials (Asphalts) concrete, vegetation and earth play a very significant role in the (UHI) effect
These materials have the effect of increasing the urban heat island

Summary

Introduction

Since 1960 till date, for many complex and interrelated reasons cities in the developing world have experienced unprecedented growth Mabojunje [1]. In almost all developing countries, Nigeria inclusively, there has been an inability of authorities (government) to respond adequately to rapid urbanization and in particular to provide adequate basic services, a situation which is proving detrimental to the provisions of the basic needs and maintenance of healthy living for the people and the environment Mabojunje [1]. An increasing proportion of urban housing is hurriedly built and cities that have experienced this rapid growth are largely unplanned and if the plans are there, they were never implemented. The rapid urbanization and industrialization of most cities today have resulted in several of the built up areas to be concreted alongside the roads with less open spaces left for greenery and play grounds. As urban areas of the world develop, changes occur in their landscape, buildings, roads, and other infrastructural facilities which replace open spaces and vegetations. In contrast atmospheric urban islands are often weak during the late morning and throughout the day and become more pronounced after sunset due to slow release of heat from infrastructures such as building materials, road materials and pavement materials etc. [3]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion