urban planning and the heat wave

yes, there is a connection - it's called the urban heat island effect.

The rapid development of Southern California over the last 50 years has created structures and landscapes that retain heat better than dry desert chaparral. Golf courses, shopping centers, housing developments and lush lawns trap heat during the day, keeping temperatures up at night. The warm nights lead to torrid daytime temperatures because heating already warm air doesn't take long, he said.

The numbers tell the tale: Between 1901 and 2000, the average daytime temperature in Southern California has gone up by three degrees, Patzert said. But nighttime averages have risen by seven degrees.

another example of the unintended, yet major, consequences of planning decisions. it's easy to say now that it was poor planning, but i can't help but be acutely aware that the decisions we're making now - that seem so responsible and sustainable - could be just as disastrous, if not worse.

it's a lot, sometimes.