Heat waves like those that baked the Northeast in July are likely to be more frequent and more intense in the future, with their effects amplified in densely built urban environments like Manhattan, according to climate scientists at The City College of New York (CCNY).

“Manhattan is subject to an urban heat island effect because its physical landscape is significantly different from the surrounding suburbs,” said Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, NOAA-CREST Professor of Mechanical Engineering in CCNY’s Grove School of Engineering. “This makes heat waves here more intense because Manhattan cannot cool off as readily as outlying areas.” Factors that contribute to the urban heat island effect include energy demand, air quality, asphalt surfaces and exhaust fumes.