In summer, the call is: get out of the city and head somewhere cool. Everyone can feel how unbearably hot cities can get in summer. This is because the dense built environment means cities heat up more intensely during the day and barely cool down at night. To ensure a good quality of life in urban areas in the future, climate change adaptation and climate protection measures are needed right now.
Heat island vs. warm island?
The terms "heat island" and "warm island" are often used interchangeably. There is actually a difference, though: a heat island is a place that feels particularly hot during the day — often a sealed, unshaded area. The term urban heat island, on the other hand, refers to the typical temperature difference between the warmer city and the cooler surrounding countryside. This effect is especially noticeable at night. That's why tropical nights are often used as a measure rather than hot days.
Detailed information can be found in the sources listed below.
You can read about why heat poses a danger to people and what temperature increases look like in Austria in our knowledge snacks:
