Why Are Cities Often Hotter than the Surrounding Countryside?

Urban heat solutions exist, but tropical cities struggle to afford the

In tropical cities, urban heat islands (UHIs) exacerbate an already challenging hot-humid heat burden for residents. UHIs are formed by urban artificial surfaces like concrete and asphalt that retain heat by day and slowly release it at night, never giving cities a chance to cool.

Why are cities often hotter than the surrounding countryside?

Ever noticed that the temperature in downtown Austin is often higher than in more rural places just outside the city? There's a reason for it: the urban heat island effect.