MIDLAND, Texas — Summer is practically here and that means people in West Texas are going to experience some pretty hot temps -- especially in Midland and Odessa. The urban areas of NewsWest 9's viewing area tend to be at least a few degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside due to a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect.
Asphalt, concrete, rooftops and buildings are very common in urban areas. These surfaces tend to have a low albedo, which means they absorb more of the sun's radiation. Once absorbed, heat is then re-emitted into the surrounding air causing an increase in temperature. The same principal explains why dark colored cars are often warmer in the summertime than light colored cars.
As a result of these materials being present, cities, such as Midland and Odessa, tend to be a few degrees hotter during all times of the year.
Additionally, cars, factories, buildings and even people all emit heat which adds to the difference in temperature between the city and countryside.
Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot people can do to prevent this phenomena from happening.
There are a few things people can do to make small localized areas cooler though. Things like planting trees and painting surfaces white can make the area surrounding ones home slightly cooler. This can result in a more comfortable outdoor environment and possibly a lower electric bill.