For release: 08/19/03
Radio interview release #: 03-140

Attention: News Directors
Tuesday, Aug. 19 - Friday, Aug. 22
Free Radio Interviews Available

What's hot? What's not? NASA 'heat hunters' find ways to reduce urban heat islands, improve quality of life in big cities

• Concrete, asphalt, dark roofing and a lack of vegetation contribute to "urban heat islands," domes of trapped heat which are growing in most major metropolitan areas, keeping temperatures up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer overnight than in suburbs or woodlands.

• Cities can even create their own weather when temperatures are hot and conditions are right.

• Higher temperatures can double the occurrence of the chemical reaction that creates ground-level ozone that is a major air pollutant in the lower atmosphere and affects human health.

• There are ways to reduce urban heat islands: Lighter-colored roofs and road materials, along with more green space, can help.

• NASA researchers study cities to better understand heat islands and develop strategies to make urban areas cooler and more livable, and to help reduce the effects of ozone.

• Talk to an expert about the research, what it means now — and what it may mean for the future of America's cities.

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