SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 27

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Concrete structures, low vegetation, and vehicular heat.

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is primarily driven by the replacement of natural land cover with impervious surfaces like concrete and asphalt. These materials have high heat capacity and low albedo, meaning they absorb and store significant solar radiation during the day and release it at night. Furthermore, a lack of vegetation reduces cooling through evapotranspiration, while anthropogenic heat from vehicles and air conditioners adds to the localized warmth, creating a "dome" of higher temperatures over urban centers.