Underground Climate change refers o the impact change on subsurface environment, including the soils, rocks, and underground water systems. The primary focus of climate change discussion after revolves around the atmosphere, ocean, and surface ecosystem the underground environment also affected by climate change albeit in different ways.

Urban areas increasingly suffer from subsurface heat islands: an underground climate change responsible for environmental, public health, and transportation issues. Soils, rocks, and construction materials deform under the influence of temperature variations and excessive deformations can affect the performance of civil infrastructure. 

The ground beneath urban areas is warming up, leading to subsurface urban heat islands. This underground climate change has two types of causes: anthropogenic and meteorological. The leading cause, developing over timescales of years, consists of thermal perturbations of the underground due to anthropogenic activity. Buildings and infrastructures continuously inject heat into the ground due to thermal losses associated with indoor heating and operating appliance.

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Underground Climate Change is a silent hazard. The ground is deforming as a result of temperature variations, and no existing civil infrastructure is designed to withstand these variations. Due to Underground Climate Change many cities are facing threat. Underground Climate Change is also known as Subsurface Heat Islands. This is not only an ecological issue but also a health concern.

Causes of underground climate change

Urbanization and industrialization have increased the amount of heat that is introduced into the subsurface environment.

This climate change also occurs by the heat generated through human activities such as transportation, manufacturing, heating and cooling systems, and even simple daily tasks like cooking.

Underground Climate Change is also a result of the thermal properties of common construction materials that can be absorb, store and gradually release heat into the ground.

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Effect of underground Climate Change

As the ground heats up, it expands causing ground deformations.

This can lead to instability in building foundations, causing them to crack or move.

 Over time, these changes can significantly affect the durability and operational performance of buildings and infrastructure.

The heating can change the structure of soil and rock.

 This can also affect the underground water sources and lead to other environmental issues.

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How to Minimize the Effects

Urban Planning measures should be done to minimize heat generation.

Material with low thermal conductivity should be used in urban construction activities.

The impact of underground climate change can be minimized by improving insulation of buildings.

By capturing and using the waste heat.

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