How does urbanization affect local weather conditions?.

Urbanization impacts local weather by creating urban heat islands, which raise temperatures in cities compared to surrounding areas. This is due to concrete and asphalt absorbing heat. Additionally, urbanization alters natural landscapes, affecting rainfall patterns and increasing runoff. The prevalence of pollutants can also contribute to cloud formation and precipitation changes, leading to more intense storms. Overall, these factors can lead to increased weather variability in urban areas.