Hyderabad: City outskirts colder than core areas

Core areas of Hyderabad with a lot of human activity and surrounded by concrete jungle are retaining heat and are relatively warmer, when compared to outskirts in Hyderabad that are blessed with greenery.

Hyderabad: Areas in Hyderabad with abundant vegetative cover are experiencing colder weather conditions during this winter when compared to regions that are dominated by concrete and asphalt. Likewise, core areas of Hyderabad with a lot of human activity and surrounded by concrete jungle are retaining heat and are relatively warmer, when compared to outskirts in Hyderabad that are blessed with greenery.

A similar contrasting weather was witnessed on Monday when the minimum temperatures dropped to 7.1 degree Celsius in the sylvan campus of University of Hyderabad. In contrast, just a few kilometers away from the University campus at Gachibowli core area, where huge concrete structures dominate, the minimum temperature was 9.3 degree Celsius. A few kilometers from the University campus, at Khajaguda Sports Complex, Gachibowli, the minimum temperature further rose to 15.1 degree Celsius.

Such a phenomenon is associated with Urban Heat Island effect, which occurs when urban centres with a lot of cement, asphalt, concrete and presence of human activity, tend to absorb and retain more heat than the outskirts, which have more open areas and a lot more green cover.

Compared to natural green cover, cement-concrete buildings and solid structures are more efficient in retaining heat. Moreover, urban areas are hub for human activities, including transportation of public and private vehicles and air conditioners, which add to the overall warming effect in core urban centres.