Study suggests nearby rural land can cool cities by nearly 30 percent

Rural land within a six- to nine-mile radius of urban boundaries can reduce urban heat island intensity by nearly 30%. Air warms in cities, creating a low-pressure zone that attracts cooler air from rural areas.

Different factors like geographic features, city shapes, and climatic zones influence the cooling process using rural land. Strategies involving rural areas can enhance cities' cooling capacities compared to traditional urban-focused methods.

Past studies emphasized cooling cities by enhancing green infrastructure within urban areas. Using rural land, which is less dense and costly, can also contribute significantly to cooling cities and reducing downtown temperatures.

Read at Washington Post