As part of an immune response to foreign pathogens, histamine is produced by basophils and by mast cells found in nearby connective tissues. Histamine increases the permeability of the capillaries to white blood cells and some proteins, to allow them to engage pathogens in the infected tissues.
Where vegetation is sparse, temperature is hot. (Image: NASA) An urban heat island (UHI) is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surroundings. According to the EPA, many U.S. cities have air temperatures up to 10Â°F (5.6Â°C) warmer than the surrounding natural land cover.
Before attacking the subject of heat islands, a quick look at some general climate concepts will be helpful to our understanding. For example, the daily temperature in Houston, similar to that of other temperate or sub-tropical locations, varies from month to month in a significant and fairly predictable way.