When we think about the hottest places on Earth, we tend to look to deserts — places that are dry, rocky, bare, and dark-colored. It turns out that such conditions appear in cities, too, which is why researchers are thinking about how to change the face of urban areas — or at least the rooftops — to reflect more and absorb less of the sun’s energy.

You can also find this graphic on NASA’s Climate 365 Tumblr page.