The “urban heat island” effect is a well-documented phenomenon where urban areas are generally warmer than surrounding rural environments due to human activities and the concentration of buildings and infrastructure.

This effect has been recognized for nearly two centuries and is caused by extensive concrete and asphalt that absorb and retain heat, coupled with limited vegetation for shade and cooling through evaporation. However, the urban heat island effect does not significantly contribute to overall global warming^[1].

The global temperature record is primarily based on data from thousands of weather stations, satellites, and ocean buoys spread across the world. These measurements are carefully analyzed and adjusted to account for any local biases, including the urban heat island effect. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other reputable scientific organizations have established strict guidelines for collecting and processing temperature data to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the global temperature record. The urban heat island effect is typically limited to a relatively small area around cities, and its impact on global temperature averages is negligible.

Researchers have observed varying intensities of heat islands across different cities but can distinguish these localized effects from broader, long-term climate trends. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)^[2] and other leading climate research institutions have confirmed that the observed global warming trend is primarily driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, not localized urban heat islands.

Despite these local effects, scientists have confirmed that the urban heat island effect does not distort the overall global temperature record. Tests removing urban stations from the global temperature data still show clear evidence of global warming over the past 50 years^[3].

^[1] https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/faq/can-you-explain-the-urban-heat-island-effect/

^[2] https://archive.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/ch3s3-2-2-2.html

^[3]https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/learn-about-heat-islands