Final answer:
Increased vegetation is not a contributing factor of the urban heat island effect; rather, it helps mitigate it by providing shade and moisture through transpiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following is NOT a contributing factor of the urban heat island effect? The correct answer is A. Increased vegetation. Increased vegetation actually helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect by providing shade and releasing moisture into the air through the process of transpiration, which cools the surrounding environment. In contrast, asphalt and concrete surfaces (B), high population density (C), and industrial activity (D) are known contributors to urban heat islands as they absorb and re-emit solar energy as heat more than natural landscapes such as parks and bodies of water.