Are building an Oven?by Muhammed Mikhail A Hafidz | 25-07-2017 16:38 |
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Study has shown that the temperature differences between my country's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and its neighbouring rural areas have been found to be as high as 10?C and the gap is widening. As a result, more severe flash floods caused by heavier rainfall and hotter temperatures in the city and suburbs than surrounding areas. The rainfall is heavier in the cities than in rural areas such as Hulu Langat, where the dams are located ironically. The horrifying phenomenon that is responsible for the increasingly hotter cities compared to the surrounding rural areas is called the "urban heat island" effect which is due to rapid development. Other than getting warmer, flash floods also occur in the concrete jungle due to its ground that could not absorb rainwater, causing it to remain on the surface with the help of heavier rainfalls because of the bubbles of heated air that form over a very warm area. The only way to reduce the urban heat island effect is through the help of green areas in the city. Reducing the risk of floods, green lungs and other forested areas helps cool down urban areas and act as a sponge to absorb excess rainfall in event of heavy storms. With the help of Malaysia's Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART), rainfall would mitigate into it, thus reducing the chance of flash floods.
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