Page 251 - Çevre Şehir ve İklim Dergisi İngilizce - Özel Sayı

Aynur Güneş Yilmaz - Onur Beyazoğlu
Bayram Hopur - Emre Yavuz

The significance of the Urban Heat Island effect stems from its negative
impacts on various environmental, economic, and social factors. The main
impacts of these effects are listed below:
• Increase in energy consumption: The Urban Heat Island effect increases
energy consumption, particularly in the summer months, by raising the
use of air conditioners (Bowler et al., 2010).
• Negative impacts on public health: High temperatures can trigger
heart attacks, respiratory diseases, chronic illnesses, and other health
problems (Pataki et al., 2011).
• Environmental effects: Urban Heat Islands put pressure on water
resources and ecosystems and reduce biodiversity (Yadsıman, K., 2023).
The health and environmental impacts that directly affect the public due to
these effects are discussed below.

2.1. The Impact of the Urban Heat Island Effect on Public Health

The variation in temperature within a settlement area can be understood
from the different variations on the land surface in that area. Urban heat island
intensity is most strongly felt in areas such as centrally located residential
neighborhoods, industrial zones, and other densely populated areas where
people live. Urban Heat Island, a phenomenon caused by concrete structures,
asphalt surfaces, low tree density, and energy intensity generated by human
activities, can have serious and varied effects on public health (Yadsıman, 2023).
The increase in average temperatures, which are caused by human-induced
climate change, leads to alterations in regional and temporal temperature
balances, an increase in the temperature differences between seasons, and the
formation of extreme hot climate conditions in one area while cold and rainy
climatic conditions may emerge in another region. Thus, significant differences
arise between both hot and cold temperature values. This kind of changes in
climate conditions has a direct impact on human health (Yadsıman, 2023).

238 Journal of Environment, Urban and Climate