The effects of human activity on urban climates is varied eg urban heat islands, increased cloud cover and incidence of smog, increased instability, reduced snow cover, lower air pressure, increased tunnelling of winds, ie “the canyon effect”, decreased relative humidity and so on.
The impacts depend on a number of factors: size of city, the function of the city (industrial versus post-industrial), land-use in the city (open spaces versus industrial/retail zones), population density, vehicle density.
In some cities, negative impacts of earlier urban development have been reversed by recent developments eg the Olympic Park in London, slum clearance in Barcelona to create La Rambla or the reintroduction of the Cheong-Gye-Cheon river in Seoul. These have led to reduced temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and increased humidity. Sustainable transport strategies may reduce the number
of vehicles in city centres.
Good candidates may examine the scale of the city, improvements to a city’s climate and the nature of the settlement. Good candidates should be able to explain specific aspects of the microclimate and relate it to named human activities (building, transport systems, power generation).
Responses at band D are likely to describe a limited range (at least two) of effects of human activity on microclimates.
At band E candidates will either discuss the effects in greater range/depth/types or provide some discussion of what “varied” might mean (eg negative/positive, planned/unplanned, varied locations).
At band F expect both.
Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.
The impacts depend on a number of factors: size of city, the function of the city (industrial versus post-industrial), land-use in the city (open spaces versus industrial/retail zones), population density, vehicle density.
In some cities, negative impacts of earlier urban development have been reversed by recent developments eg the Olympic Park in London, slum clearance in Barcelona to create La Rambla or the reintroduction of the Cheong-Gye-Cheon river in Seoul. These have led to reduced temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and increased humidity. Sustainable transport strategies may reduce the number
of vehicles in city centres.
Good candidates may examine the scale of the city, improvements to a city’s climate and the nature of the settlement. Good candidates should be able to explain specific aspects of the microclimate and relate it to named human activities (building, transport systems, power generation).
Responses at band D are likely to describe a limited range (at least two) of effects of human activity on microclimates.
At band E candidates will either discuss the effects in greater range/depth/types or provide some discussion of what “varied” might mean (eg negative/positive, planned/unplanned, varied locations).
At band F expect both.
Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.