Certain characteristics being common between urbanization and modernization make the

distinction between the two processes blurred. It is because of this that these concepts often
appear to be overlapping. The rationality, scientific temper, individualism, secularism,
temperament of progress and mobility are the defining socio-cultural characteristics of both
urbanization and modernization.
Modernization is a process through which a society transforms from being rural to a more
industrialized and urban society and Urbanization refers to the population shift from rural to
urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the
ways in which societies adapt to this change.
Urbanization refers to the process in which the original, natural land surface is replaced by an
artificial surface. Urbanization changes the surface roughness, the radiation and the thermal and
dynamic characteristics of the underlying surface, and the atmosphere of the city; additionally,
urbanization causes the energy and moisture balance to differ from the surrounding environment,
which has impacts upon temperature and precipitation.
Here are situations in which urbanization (including urbanization patterns) and modernization
foster negative effects on the weather.
Affects water cycle. Under normal conditions, the water cycle works as a natural recycling
system, constantly replenishing the earth’s supply of water. Impervious cover associated with
urbanization disrupts this process, resulting in degraded freshwater, estuarine, and marine
ecosystems. Urban growth changes the way rain runs to rivers and streams. Furthermore, this
change results to decrease in the volume of water that percolates into the ground, and a resulting
increase in volume and decrease in quality of surface water.

Changes in albedo. The albedo of the earth's surface and the atmosphere is important to
forecasting. A substance with a high albedo reflects a significant amount of incoming radiation.
A substance with a low albedo reflects very little incoming radiation. Concrete, buildings, and
metal in urban areas have a lower albedo than rural areas with trees and vegetation. There is also
less evaporative cooling or transpirational cooling from concrete, buildings or metal. When
forecasting, temperatures in urban areas will be a couple to a few degrees warmer than rural
areas on sunny days with light to moderate wind.

Anthropogenic heat (AH) is the energy released from human sources such as vehicles,
commercial and residential buildings, industry, power plants, and human metabolism. AH can
greatly affect the urban environment by directly changing the surface air temperature and by
indirectly modifying urban boundary layer structure, precipitation, and other conditions. (AH) is
a small influence on rural temperatures, and becomes more significant in dense urban areas. It is
one contributor to urban heat islands.

Urbanization can also affect precipitation- an important component of the land-atmosphere

interactions. In the coastal area, urbanization enhances sea breezes, which may benefit
precipitation if sea breezes go along with the prevailing moisture. In inland area, urbanization
likely leads to a warmer-dryer climate if large-scale land cover keeps stationary. According to
my research, Possible mechanisms by which urbanization impacts precipitation or convective
clouds have been identified as one or a combination of the following (1) enhanced convergence
owing to increased surface roughness in the urban environment, (2) destabilization due to UHI
thermal perturbation of the boundary layer and resulting downstream translation of the UHI
circulation or UHI-generated convective clouds, (3) increased concentration of aerosols in the
urban environment for cloud condensation nuclei, or (4) bifurcation or diversion of precipitating
systems by the urban canopy or related processes. There are relatively limited studies of the
impact of urbanization on precipitation compared with the extensive investigation of UHI. Some
debate exists regarding the precipitation enhancement over and downwind of urban areas. While
the debate is continuing, more observational and numerical work is required to improve our
understanding of this topic.

Elevated emissions of air pollutants and GHGs. This is a consequence of urban industry,
emissions from cars, and the electricity demand. Around the world, companies use fossil fuels
such as coal and petrol to generate electricity. Burning these compounds leads to an increase in
air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. They represent a health and environmental hazard,
for they contribute to the formation of smog and the precipitation of acid rain. Urban GHG
emissions are largely responsible for global warming and climate change.
Urbanization is also defined as population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding
decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt
to this change. It is predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become
larger as more people begin living and working in central areas. This process causes
overpopulation and overcrowding resulting to excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, human
wastes, and consumption of energy which can greatly affect local (and global) temperature.