Climate change isn't just limited to above the planet's surface. The temperature is rising underground as well, putting densely built cities at risk, according to a study published in the journal Communications Engineering. The study found that urban areas struggle with subsurface heat islands, which are "an underground climate change responsible for environmental, public health, and transportation issues." The phenomenon leads to "ground deformations and displacements" that can impact the "operational performance of structures and infrastructures with time."
"All around you, you have heat sources," the study's author, Alessandro F. Rotta Loria, told The New York Times. "These are things that people don't see, so it's like they don't exist." The study analyzed Chicago, specifically finding that much of the heat came from underground infrastructure like basements, as well as pipes, train tunnels, parking garages, and electrical wires. The phenomenon was deemed "underground climate change."
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