Final answer:
Cities contribute to the heat island effect by both generating heat through human activities and reducing wind speeds. Factors such as air conditioning, burning fossil fuels, and extensive use of concrete and asphalt are all contributors. Therefore, the correct answer is c. Both of the answers are correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The contribution of cities to the heat island effect involves several factors. Cities increase local temperatures by generating heat through various human activities, such as air conditioning, burning fossil fuels, and using extensive amounts of concrete and asphalt, which absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes. Additionally, the structural layout of cities can reduce wind speeds, which might otherwise help to disperse heat.
The correct answer to how cities contribute to the heat island effect is c. Both of the answers are correct. Reduced wind speeds and heat generation from human activities are both contributing factors to urban heat islands.
Alongside greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, cities directly contribute to local climate change by their structure and energy consumption patterns. Since the Industrial Revolution, the increase in fossil fuel combustion for energy and transportation has significantly raised carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, compounding the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming.
Furthermore, the concept of the heat island effect aligns with the understanding that manmade structures and activities can significantly affect local climates, often resulting in higher temperatures within urban areas compared to their rural surroundings.