No, this is not a trick question. By definition, you'd think the answer is L.A., where the heat is generated, but it's actually San Bernardino, 56 miles to the east. Turns out that like ozone, heat is transported by the wind.
"Heat islands are created by a combination of heat-absorptive surfaces (such as dark pavement and roofing), heat-generating activities (such as engines and generators), and the absence of vegetation (which provides evaporative cooling)," according to the Urban Heat Island Index for California from the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).
Using the new index which tracks temperatures across the state, CalEPA found that "[t]he highest temperatures crop up east of downtown Los Angeles and are pushed into the inland valley by ocean breezes," writes Sanden Totten, science reporter for KPCC. [Listen here]
"In that way we found that the urban heat island effect in the L.A. area really mimicked the ozone pollution problem in L.A. where it moved east and settles against the hills," said Gina Solomon, Deputy Secretary for Science and Health with CalEPA.
She adds that the index, a result of 2012 legislation (AB 296, Chapter 667, Statutes of 2012), is a way of "quantifying the urban heat island effect." It "is designed so that cities can have a quantifiable goal for heat reduction," according to the webpage.
"We call it not an urban heat island but an urban heat archipelago because it's like a whole chain of urban heat islands that run into each other," Solomon said.
“The Urban Heat Island Index offers state and local governments a tool to help prioritize areas for programs that reduce heat in urban communities, such as urban greening projects and cooler roofs and pavements," notes the press release.
FULL STORY: LA area has highest urban heat island effect in California
As Heat Waves Become More Common, Bus Shelters Are Needed to Keep Transit Riders Onboard
As climate change brings prolonged, intense heat waves to cities once associated with rain and cold weather will have to attend to the lack of shelter provided to bus and transit riders.
The Problem with Tree Planting Programs
Ambitious campaigns to plant trees in urban areas often don't take into account the complexities of growing and maintaining effective urban forests.
How Extreme Heat Threatens the Electrical Grid
Higher demand for electricity and lower capacity for production due to more intense heat waves are straining the power grid and causing concern for future energy production.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research