Today, in our environmental science lecture, we'll discuss urban heat islands. These are areas in cities that are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. The main cause is the replacement of natural surfaces with concrete and asphalt, which absorb and retain heat. Additionally, human activities like transportation and air conditioning generate excess heat. To mitigate this effect, cities are planting more trees and creating green roofs. However, a recent study found that while green roofs are effective in reducing rooftop temperatures, they have limited impact on street-level cooling. Instead, increasing the albedo of pavements by using lighter-colored materials has shown more promising results for pedestrians.