Thanks to adaptation, hot days in Prague are more bearable. It also protects the health and lives of residents from the effects of the urban heat island
The Czech Republic is suffering from extreme heat. The situation is even worse in big cities, where high temperatures complicate everyday life. Of course, the domestic metropolis of Prague is no exception, which due to its character is one of the localities where the effects of the urban heat island effect are the most pronounced. For its residents, the summer months have become not only unpleasant in recent years, but also increasingly endanger their health and lives. The city leader responds to these specific needs with the help of adaptive measures. What is their significance for the moderate impact of the world’s climate crisis?
Unfortunate for the great city
The temperature in Prague is measured at the meteorological station in Klementin, and as a result of this measure, long-term data show that the average annual temperature in the city is increasing. While in the years 1911 and 1960 the average year was constantly below 10 C, in the coming years the situation changed and the average year temperature did not fall below this limit since 1961. A constant increase in tropical days when temperatures exceed 30 degrees. Prague, and especially its center, thus consistently dominates any of the warmest areas in the entire republic.
Metropolises have to deal with problems that are common to all large cities in the conditions of the global climate crisis. Heat islands are by no means exclusive here either, but that certainly does not mean that they will wave their hands over the worsening conditions without further ado. The historic center of Prague in particular is solidly built-up land with a large number of asphalt and concrete surfaces. These materials have the property of absorbing sunlight and accumulating heat. Moreover, most of the water is quickly diverted to the sewers and does not freeze in the place of its impact, which could at least cool it for some time. This is a simplification of the reason for the emergence of urban heat islands, explains Tereza Lbov, adaptation specialist from the Environmental Protection Department of the Magistrate hl. m of Prague (OCP MHMP).
The density of buildings and the structure of the surface in the center of the city is the reason for the enormous temperature differences. Unprotected asphalt and concrete and areas without green areas and water areas can reach temperatures of over 50 C during the day and above, compared to water areas, so it’s a leap and a few steps. However, Mstsk streets are not quiet even at night, when the surfaces absorb the heat accumulated during the day. Because of this, heat islands become a long-term negative primary phenomenon of life in the big city.
The dead poet rises
Moderate negative impacts are dealt with first by the creators of the so-called adaptation measures. Compared to the mitigation stage, i.e. the effort to minimize the creation of greenhouse gases on the land of the city, adaptation acknowledges that global climate change cannot be easily averted, and therefore tries as hard as possible to deal with its consequences. Recently, experts from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Russia and the Czech Republic have warned against the dangers of urban heat islands, saying that the heat can also take a toll on lives. During the last ten years, this danger has increased two-fold, and there is no doubt that the balance will improve. According to their study published in the professional journal Urban Climate, between 2010 and 2019, an average of 90 people lived on the streets of Prague.
It is therefore not surprising that the implementation of adaptation measures is one of the main priorities of the capital in the area of environmental protection in the metropolis. This invitation is taken into account not only by the Climate Plenum m of Prague by 2030, but also separately Strategy of adaptation of the capital m of Prague to climate change.
One vc is the health aspect, extreme heat is logically a big loss for the human organism. The demographic composition of the population is increasing, and the vulnerable group of seniors over 65 years of age will continue to grow. First, they are one of the most at-risk groups, together with small children and patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diagnoses. However, the high temperature also manifests itself in other areas, the heat conditions affect the efficiency of the work, and as a result, the overall economic performance decreases. It is also indicated negatively in transport. With the increasing inattention of idi, the poet of traffic accidents is born. It is indeed a problem that is prescribed in many areas of life in the metropolis, note Lbov.
The most reliable one is adaptation
There are many ways to respond to this situation. One of them is about building a blue-green infrastructure and looking at the possibility of its development. They are mainly green areas and parks, which contribute to the creation of suitable microclimatic conditions on the land of the city. Therefore, complex revitalization is due, but also due to the right to build new and newly established trees, to build moisture structures and to build impervious roads due to the impact of rainwater in the city of its impact. According to various regulations, the building is flooded and managed with this water. All of these are ways to ensure that the blue-green areas fulfill their microclimatic function, functioning as such a powerful air conditioning unit. In a similar way, it is also necessary to dedicate water bodies to managing those who build them, to bring them more to people, to release streams from reinforced beds, to establish new water bodies and to manage their recreational function.
Monitoring and improving the condition of blue-green infrastructure in Prague is one of our main priorities. In the last year alone, the municipality or city hall of a hundred and ten small cities has implemented a project to plant greenery and restore water bodies and streams. In the foreseeable future, a new pond will be created on the Letn, and the grassy areas will also grow with the popular Stromovka. However, concrete changes can also be observed because in the streets there are often birds or birds that can provide the necessary light on these hot days. ijmenovv adaptation specialist from the master’s department.
However, there are also some that are of a long-term and strategic type. For example, last year, the representative approved the Wastewater Management Standards for the land of Hl. m of Prague, from which OCP promises to ensure water supply in localities for a long time. This will help to cool the public spaces in a direct way and thus avoid the accumulation of heat on the original open surfaces.
Among the important documents he gave were the Akn full of planting a million trees, its goals are already more than half fulfilled, and the Municipal standard for planting, planting and pi o ulin trees, to be adopted in the current year. Trees in cities have more functions than walls, they also clean air and naturally capture water. Green roofs or facades can have a similar effect. That is why we are trying to motivate private property owners to install such an adapted roof on all their properties. But it is clear that the center of the problem is public space. Therefore, let’s spend our maximum efforts in this direction first, concluded Lbov.