Traffic in Istanbul affects snowfall
Excessive traffic and the density of motor vehicles in Istanbul are increasing the city's temperature levels, hindering snowfall. ITU faculty member Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros issued warnings to drivers on how to drive correctly to cause less harm to the environment.
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According to a 2024 report by a US-based firm, Istanbul has surpassed New York to take the top spot in traffic congestion, and this situation is also changing the climate. Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Toros, a faculty member at the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Department of Meteorological Engineering, explained the reason for this situation as follows:
"Every pollutant we release into the atmosphere directly affects our health, but there are also indirect effects. The land structure in Istanbul has completely changed; there is more asphalt, more vehicles, and more people. Every vehicle in Istanbul is like a stove. Pollutant gases and particulate matter emerge from the exhaust of each vehicle as it moves. This particulate matter mixes into the atmosphere and changes the chemical structure of the atmosphere. In cities, a dome we call an 'urban heat island' is formed. These days, everyone is waiting for snowfall. For snowfall, the temperature needs to be close to or below 0 degrees. Imagine, the temperature in the center of Istanbul is 2 degrees due to the urban heat island. If there weren't this many vehicles, the temperature might have dropped to 0 degrees. When it should be snowing, it rains instead; it can prevent snowfall. There are studies on this type of phenomenon. We only think about our comfort. The pollutants emitted from the exhaust of a vehicle to get somewhere can confront us with different short-term or long-term negative effects."
'DRIVERS ARE NOT DRIVING CORRECTLY'
Stating that the number of registered vehicles in Istanbul is approaching 6 million, Prof. Toros continued:
"In Istanbul, people can spend 1-2 hours on a journey that should take half an hour. A vehicle that should run for half an hour runs for 2 hours. Furthermore, the more a vehicle does stop-and-go driving, the more the amount of emissions it releases into the atmosphere increases. Another point is that we drivers are not actually driving correctly. There is a red light ahead. We drive fast until the last moment and hit the brakes at the last second, or we suddenly hit the gas when the light turns green. Sudden stops and starts lead to the release of pollutants into the atmosphere, not only significantly from the exhaust but also from the brakes, brake pads, and tires. When we put all of these together, the increasing traffic in Istanbul increases the amount of pollutants, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide we release into the atmosphere."