The effect of the temperature of the surface of vegetation to the temperature of an urban area

Year 2018, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 76 - 85, 05.12.2018

Nalan Yıldız , Ugur Avdan

Abstract

Urban
areas have less vegetation than their surrounding natural environments.
Differences between these types of areas affects climate, energy use, and
habitats in the cities. In urban areas, dark surfaces and reduced vegetation
affects the warmth of air over urban areas, and as a result leading to the
creation of urban heat islands. Urban vegetation can have a substantial effect
on urban air temperature and as a result can reduce the energy consumption
arising from cooling and smog. To
estimate the impact of light-colored surfaces and urban vegetation (trees, grass,
shrubs and groundcover) on meteorology and air quality of a city, it is
essential to accurately characterize various urban surfaces. The
characterization of the areas with various vegetation cover has significant
importance in understanding the temperature of urban areas. Plants are
essential in a dense urban environment not only because of their aesthetic
value, but also for their cooling effect during hot time periods, which has a
direct effect to the local microclimate of an area. The benefits obtained from
plants to the urban environment can either be direct or indirect. For example,
trees have an ability to trap sunlight before it warms the ground, they also
have an ability to cool their surroundings through evapotranspiration. Not only
that but trees can also act as wind barriers by reducing the wind speed of
their neighboring surroundings, they can protect buildings from cold winter
breezes and they can offer reasonable benefits through reducing the costs of
air-conditioning through lowering air temperature and improving the urban air
quality by reducing air pollution.

Some
trees cope better with high urban temperatures than others. The resolution of
the presented urban surface temperature data for the first time allows to
determine mean canopy temperatures of individual vegetation belonging to
different species. 

Leaf
temperature is the outcome of the energy balance at leaf level, which depends
on a series of anatomical, physical and biological phenomena. The resulting
leaf temperature, foliage temperature has important consequences for the plant
itself, but also for the environment surrounding the plant. Landscape planners
have recognized the link between greenspace provision in the urban environment
and environmental quality for a long time.

There
is a growing need of analytical work on the beneficial impacts of urban
greenspace on micro-climates and as well as biodiversity. Previous studies have
shown that land uses have their own distinctive surface cover. 

This
study contributes a method and tools for analyzing, understanding, planning,
and managing urban environments. It is important especially when considering
the ever increasing interest of having green infrastructural planning. The
study has been conducted in Erzurum though the application of a thermal camera. 

Keywords

Temperature, Surface cover, Vegetation, Thermal camera

References

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