Kolkata: Only solution is to increase vegetation, says climate scientist – Times of India

Kolkata News

Kolkata: The study on urban temperature rise and heat islands, conducted jointly by Calcutta University and Vidyasagar University, has an interesting find: the human health comfort map.
It shows that the city’s centre, and a 20km buffer around it, contains stressful health conditions, with about 90% of the heat islands situated in this zone. The total amount of UHI growth has been 44.6sqkm over the last three decades, with an urban expansion of 28.7sqkm. The highest UHI extent index (UHIEI) was identified in the west southwest direction (areas such as Kidderpore and Budge Budge), and least towards the south and southeast (areas adjoining the East Kolkata Wetlands, such as Patuli and New Garia), the study said.
High-rises and population density have increased rapidly, with a decline in greenery during the study period. Therefore, the NDVI values are lower within KMC areas, but more enhanced in the surrounding rural areas. Studies have shown that UHIs affect rainfall patterns by increasing rainfall downwind of cities, and the formation of clouds and fog. In addition, UHIs may also affect plant-growing seasons in temperate regions, said Ismail Mondal, a climate scientist at Calcutta University and a lead author of a study on Kolkata’s UHIs.
The practices of “water-roofing” and “green-roofing”, and planting of trees are urgently required to mitigate the UHI effect, experts said. A time series-based study could guide planning efforts towards decreasing the adverse effects of urbanisation induced by heat islands and make possible an eco-friendly and sustainable urban development in this region, the study said.
“The only solution to the problem is to increase vegetation,” said climate scientist Arindam Roy. “We are in a vicious cycle of the climate crisis. The city’s green cover was ravaged by more frequent cyclones, induced by climate change. And, as we are losing green cover, we are becoming more susceptible to the effects of UHIs,” said Roy, the co-founder of Sabuj Prithibi, a climate advocacy group.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/only-solution-is-to-increase-vegetation-climate-scientist/articleshow/90900271.cms