Implications of Urban Land Management on the Cooling Properties of Urban Trees: Citizen Science and Laboratory Analysis

Jérôme Ngao, Macarena L. Cárdenas, Thierry Améglio, Jérôme Colin and Marc Saudreau
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Jérôme Ngao: Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Macarena L. Cárdenas: Earthwatch Europe, Mayfield House, 256 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DE, UK
Thierry Améglio: Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Jérôme Colin: ICube Laboratory, Université Strasbourg, CNRS, ENGEES, INSA Strasbourg, ICube, 67400 Illkirch, France
Marc Saudreau: Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: Trees participate in mitigating the urban heat island phenomenon thanks to their transpiration and shading. This cooling potential is highly dependent on leaf area. Nevertheless, leaf traits potentially vary across different land management practices in urban settings, thereby challenging the models used to estimate thermal budgets. The present study aims to investigate the variability of leaf area traits of linden ( Tilia spp.) urban trees, and their effect on simulated tree transpiration. Reconstruction of the leaf area was undertaken at the tree scale at three different urban land management sites from three cities: London and Birmingham (UK) and Chantilly (France). The reconstruction combined allometric measurements at shoot and leaf scales, and a tree-scale 3D digitization with laboratory analysis using field data collected by citizen scientists. The management practices had a significant impact on leaf area, and on tree allometric relationships, which were propagated through the reconstruction process. Relative differences between the management practices ranged between 12% and 48% according to the city where the variable was considered (e.g., leaf area index, total leaf area, or tree transpiration). Trees in managed sites (i.e., individualized leaf crowns, frequent leaf litter removal, and standard thinning/pruning operations) develop a higher leaf area, thus promoting cooling potential. This study shows that the variability of leaf traits, and their responses to different land management, can be studied by comprehensive data collection through citizen science and lab-based modelling. It also highlights the importance of appropriate, well-designed urban planning, where landscaping using urban trees can play an even better role in climate proofing cities.

Keywords: leaf area; urban trees; modelling; urban heat island; nature-based solutions; cooling effect; citizen science; urban sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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