Bob Yirka is a writer for Phys.org.
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A group of researchers with the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science, ETH Zurich, have found evidence that trees can reduce land surface area temperatures in cities up to 12C.
Adding green spaces to cities can help reduce high air temperatures in the warm months because of the huge expanses of asphalt and cement that absorb heat. The researchers looked at possible temperature impacts on land surface areas instead of air temperatures. The air temperatures surrounding people in the vicinity are more important than the temperatures below their feet.
The data from satellites was analyzed by the team. The researchers compared land surface temperatures in parts of cities that were covered with trees with areas that were not covered with trees. For comparison purposes, they did the same for rural settings.
They found that areas with trees had cooler land surface temperatures than areas without trees. The researchers found that the differences were as high as 8 to 12 K in parts of Southern Europe and as low as 0 to 4 K in Central Europe. There were no differences in the vegetation in the cities.
The shade that trees provide helps keep the ground cooler, which may help reduce building surface temperatures in similar ways. Adding tree cover to urban areas can have an impact.
The role of urban trees in reducing land surface temperatures in European cities is more information. There is a DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26768-w.
Nature Communications is a journal.
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The trees were found to reduce land surface area temperatures in cities up to 12C.
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