Manchester maps heat

A detailed picture of how urban "heat islands" push up the temperature in the hottest months of the year is being produced by Manchester University. The project, known as Scorchio (Sustainable Cities: Options for Responding to Climate Change Impacts and Outcomes), will map the surface temperature of central areas of Manchester and Sheffield, and the data collected will be combined with climate-change forecasts. One of the aims of the three-year study is to produce a series of tools that will help planners adapt the urban landscape to ease discomfort during hot spells.