Hello Professor Gehring, thanks for your question. There is an ongoing UHI study (Hinkel et al. 2003) in Barrow, Alaska that I modeled my study after. They found a stronger winter UHI averaging 2.2 degrees Celsius (1 degree Celsius in Nuuk). While Barrow is smaller than Nuuk, it’s more compact and its primary heating source is natural gas. Nuuk is powered almost entirely by hydro power and most homes have electric or steam heat. Another high-latitude UHI study (Magee et al. 1999) measured the UHI between Fairbanks, Alaska and Eielson Airforce Base. They found an average winter UHI of 1 degree Celsius.

Thank you, Tony.
Catherine

Hello Professor Culligan, thanks for your question. There are several factors that contribute to the ‘inverse heat island’ or ‘cooling/cold island’. 1) shading effects of buildings, 2) minimal nocturnal heat loss during in high-latitude cities during the summer, 3) warm periods of strong solar forcing, and 4) maritime effects. While heat is still required in these cold regions, urbanization’s effects on the surface energy balance are not enough to overcome these factors. This is quite different from middle and low latitude cities where the UHI is intensified during the summer months as a result of energy use and land use patterns.

Hello Professor Lefticariu, thanks for your question. This was my first solo international research project. It was quite the experience! The staff at Asiaq was very helpful, but somewhat doubtful that I would find anything. Then I began to explain my research method and the Barrow, Alaska study (Hinkel et al. 2003). We then did a few brief calculations in their office and they became believers. As you infer, UHI is not something that is naturally thought about in high-latitude cities, because they are cold, have smaller populations, and are not home to skyscrapers. While I did not compare my results to Kansas, I did compare them to results in Barrow and Fairbanks Alaska. Nuuk’s average winter UHI was 1 degree Celsius (2005-2010) and 0.9 degree Celsius in 2011. Average winter UHIs in Barrow and Fairbanks (Magee et al. 2009) were 2.2 degrees Celsius and 1 degree Celsius, respectively.

Hello Professor Yeakley, thanks for your question. I have interviewed both public officials and citizens. Their responses have been quite interesting. While there are many climate change/sustainability conscious individuals in Greenland, others view climate change and global warming as a key to Greenland’s future success and increased independence from Denmark. The possibility of newly discovered fossil fuel resources and the associated economic development are of great importance to the government. When discussing urban warming in Nuuk, one resident had this to say, “Global warming rocks for Greenland, new [vegetable opportunities], fish coming in due to warmer water… people want development. There are a lot of relatively poor people.” There is a lot of talk about the agricultural and employment opportunities in a warmer climate. I attended the First Conference on Arctic Urbanization in August 2012, the major concerns surrounding urbanization were more social then environmental, more than likely due to amount of poverty and large constituency of citizens dependent on the government. On the other hand, I worked with some Greenlandic students during Summer 2012 and they were concerned that from their perspective the government was not doing enough to address warming and other environmental issues. However, I found Greenland to be somewhat progressive in regards to the environment and energy. Nuuk is almost entirely powered by hydro electricity and planners are researching ways to make buildings more energy efficient, which should positively impact (reduce) urban warming.

Thanks Katrina :)

Hi Joseph, thanks for your question. Mid- and low-latitude cities do exhibit strong heat islands during the summer months resulting from a combination of land use patterns, solar influences, and high energy demand for air conditioning. In high-latitude cities, like Nuuk, Greenland, during the summer air conditioning is not needed because temperatures remain low (not as low as winter) thus energy demand and loss into the atmosphere is lower than during winter. There are also a lot of social implications associated with the urban heat island effect, such as, inequalities in the cost burden of heating and air resulting from lower levels of energy efficiencies in low-income households. The US EPA provides a wealth of information about heat island impacts and mitigation http://www.epa.gov/hiri/.

Thank you, Tony, for the work and the response. Totally answers my question.

Thanks for your comments Steve. Yes, human activity contributes to increased pollution, but temperature increases are also experienced due to heat loss from inefficient buildings.

Thanks Joane! This was a fun experience. I have shared the video and poster with several contacts in Greenland and the Arctic Urbanization Conference organizers. When I requested data from Asiaq, they were somewhat shocked that I was studying UHI in Nuuk. Melting permafrost is not a problem. When I initially started the project, I thought this was going to be an issue. Nuuk is south of the permafrost zone.

Thanks Jacob! Nuuk’s ground cover is more rocky than vegetated. But for the vegetated areas that do exist, this is a very interesting question.

Thanks Thomas! You’re correct about the effect of wind speed on the heat island. The heat island diminishes with increasing wind velocity, because of increased mixing and the heat is dispersed up and away. To account for that, this study looks at days under “calm” wind conditions. Days where average wind speeds were 3.5 m/s or greater were not factored into the UHI calculation. In larger cities, like those in the US, the impact of building construction and height on wind is of greater concern than in Arctic cities where building heights are typically lower.

Another interesting aspect of the UHI – windspeed connection is that the differences in temperature between a city and outlying areas can actually drive a local thermal circulation. It would be interesting to analyze if wind patterns are changing as Nuuk grows.

That is interesting Eric. I’ve seen some other studies looking at the impact of UHI on wind and precipitation. Other studies have also investigated climatological impacts on surrounding cities.

Thanks Stephanie!

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Thanks for your continued support Ms. Bittle!

Thanks Michael!

Thanks Mrs. Maltbia!

Thanks Joe!

Thanks Antonio!

Thanks so much bestie!

Thanks for the support Sherry!

Thanks for the support Sabrina!

Thanks for the support Diana, UHI has a host of environmental, social, economic, and health concerns, that should be discussed and understood to inform our policy and development decisions.

Thanks for your support Walker!

Thanks for the support B!

Thanks for the support Linda. Nuuk’s local government created a new master plan for their city center. They will demolish old inefficient buildings and replace them with more efficient and environmentally sustainable structures. So this is is an issue being addressed. Also, newer developments in Nuuk (their suburbs) are being built more efficiently. The government-owned utility is also addressing energy efficiency and energy conservation issues.

Thanks for the support Dr. Ledley!

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Thanks for the support Brian!

Thanks for your support and question Paula! Nuuk is south of the Greenland permafrost zone, but cities further north that are also experiencing increased growth and urbanization (Maniitsoq, Sisimiut, and Aasiaat) should be aware of the potential impacts on permafrost.

Thanks for checking it our Eric!

Thanks Terrance, for supporting the video!

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Thanks Ashley, I’ve sent the video to some folks in Greenland. Waiting to hear back.

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Thanks for the support Vicky!

Thanks Eric! There is an ongoing UHI study (Hinkel et al. 2003) in Barrow, Alaska that I modeled my study after. They found a stronger winter UHI averaging 2.2 degrees Celsius (1 degree Celsius in Nuuk). While Barrow is smaller than Nuuk, it’s more compact and its primary heating source is natural gas. Nuuk is powered almost entirely by hydro power and most homes have electric or steam heat. Another high-latitude UHI study (Magee et al. 1999) measured the UHI between Fairbanks, Alaska and Eielson Airforce Base. They found an average winter UHI of 1 degree Celsius.

Thanks for watching!

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Thanks for the support Marilu!