Urban Weather and Climate Impact Quiz

What unusual weather phenomenon was observed in Houston that led researchers to question the city's impact on weather?

• Increased snowfall

• More frequent tornadoes

• Increased lightning activity

• Higher wind speeds

What is the Urban Heat Island Effect primarily caused by?

• Increased vegetation

• Use of materials like concrete and brick

• Proximity to oceans

• High altitude

How does the Urban Heat Island Effect influence rainfall in cities?

• It increases rainfall by creating low-pressure areas

• It causes rainfall to occur only at night

• It has no effect on rainfall

• It decreases rainfall by cooling the air

What percentage of global cities experience more rainfall than their rural surroundings?

• 80%

• 63%

• 50%

• 25%

What role does pollution play in the Urban Rain Island effect?

• It has no impact on weather

• It prevents storms from forming

• It acts as a cloud seeding agent

• It reduces cloud formation

How did urbanization affect the impact of Hurricane Harvey in Houston?

• It caused the hurricane to change direction

• It reduced the amount of rainfall

• It made the flooding event 21 times more likely

• It had no impact on the hurricane

What is one of the main factors that exacerbated the flooding during Hurricane Harvey?

• Dense forestation

• Increase in impervious surfaces

• Presence of large lakes

• High altitude of the city

What is a potential solution to reduce flood risk in urban areas?

• Building more highways

• Increasing the number of skyscrapers

• Increasing air pollution

• Reducing impervious surfaces

How can cities potentially influence their local climate to become more resilient?

• By increasing air pollution

• By building more factories

• By rethinking urban development

• By reducing vegetation

What is a key strategy to help cities adapt to climate change impacts?

• Increasing carbon emissions

• Relying solely on global treaties

• Implementing local climate action plans

• Ignoring urban planning