Scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona have come up with an "excellent" idea to tackle the heat island effect in the city as heatwaves become more intense. Traditionally, Barcelona's terracotta balconies have been iconic, but the city's skyline might undergo a change for climate reasons, as Euronews reports.
The proposal suggests painting the rooftops of Barcelona white as a measure to mitigate the impact of heatwaves. The heat island effect, occurring more frequently, has led to temperature increases of up to eight degrees Celsius in the city center.
As the climate crisis worsens, the researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have presented an ambitious plan that could transform the city.
Europe is experiencing a faster rate of warming than the global average, with urban areas seeing annual temperature increases between 1.7 and 1.9 degrees Celsius. Barcelona is no exception, with 2020 marking its warmest year in over two centuries, recording an average temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius.
In response to this challenge, a team of climate change researchers has launched a pioneering project to paint the city's rooftops white. Their research suggests that this could potentially reduce temperatures by up to 4.7 degrees during heatwaves.
Meteorologist Sergi Ventura from UAB states that "cities with urban heat islands could have their rooftops painted white." The study shows an average temperature reduction of 0.8 degrees during heatwaves, and even greater reductions of up to four degrees at certain locations and times of the day.
Currently, Barcelona's building materials retain daytime solar radiation, contributing to the city's heat accumulation. The proposed "cold rooftops" would reflect sunlight, effectively increasing the albedo and preventing the absorption of heat by the buildings. This initiative could have a significant impact on mitigating the city's heat problem and its severe consequences.
The proposal suggests painting the rooftops of Barcelona white as a measure to mitigate the impact of heatwaves. The heat island effect, occurring more frequently, has led to temperature increases of up to eight degrees Celsius in the city center.
As the climate crisis worsens, the researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have presented an ambitious plan that could transform the city.
Europe is experiencing a faster rate of warming than the global average, with urban areas seeing annual temperature increases between 1.7 and 1.9 degrees Celsius. Barcelona is no exception, with 2020 marking its warmest year in over two centuries, recording an average temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius.
In response to this challenge, a team of climate change researchers has launched a pioneering project to paint the city's rooftops white. Their research suggests that this could potentially reduce temperatures by up to 4.7 degrees during heatwaves.
Meteorologist Sergi Ventura from UAB states that "cities with urban heat islands could have their rooftops painted white." The study shows an average temperature reduction of 0.8 degrees during heatwaves, and even greater reductions of up to four degrees at certain locations and times of the day.
Currently, Barcelona's building materials retain daytime solar radiation, contributing to the city's heat accumulation. The proposed "cold rooftops" would reflect sunlight, effectively increasing the albedo and preventing the absorption of heat by the buildings. This initiative could have a significant impact on mitigating the city's heat problem and its severe consequences.