TITLE:
Monitoring Day and Night-Time Situation of Urban Heat Island and Possible Adaptation Measures in Douala, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Mbia Ekolok Awuh
KEYWORDS:
Surface Modifications, Increase Temperature, Coping Strategy
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.8,
August
26,
2021
ABSTRACT: Urban Heat Island (UHI) has the potential to directly
influence the health and welfare of urban residents. The study employed a
traditional method called “paired
measurement program” to analyze the effects of four land use/land- cover
patterns on intra-urban air temperature variations in the Douala
Metropolis, Cameroon under different atmospheric conditions. This study also
investigated the possible adaptation measures employed by the inhabitants to
combat the urban heat island effects. The result revealed a variation in the
temperature of the selected transects. There was a mix of cool and heat islands
by day, especially during rainy seasons. The daytime variations were strongly
correlated to the amount of tree shading. It was also observed that the temperature
gradient was formed at the Central Business District (CBD) and progressively
lowered to the suburbs. The thermal comfort classification for the area ranges
between 25.4°C and 27°C, which is a class where over 50% of the population
feels stressed; and the range of 32°C and above, where most of the population
suffers discomfort. In order to investigate the possible adaptation measures
employed by the inhabitants of Douala, two hundred and fifty questionnaires
were distributed and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result revealed
that the inhabitants use various coping strategies in order to adapt to UHI
effects. The strategies identified include; stay indoors, drink plenty of
water, wear light clothing, go to an A/C location, take a cool shower, avoid outdoors,
and wear a hat or cover head. The widely used coping strategy identified is
drinking plenty of water. The expensive nature of A/C makes it the least used
coping strategy.