MITIGATING THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT: The Thermal Performance of Shade-Tree Planting in Downtown Los Angeles

Yuzhou Zhu () and Karen M. Kensek
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Yuzhou Zhu: School of Architecture, University of Southern California, Watt Hall, 850 Bloom Walk Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Karen M. Kensek: School of Architecture, University of Southern California, Watt Hall, 850 Bloom Walk Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-36

Abstract: The intensifying urban heat island (UHI) effect presents a growing challenge for urban environments, yet there is a lack of comprehensive strategies that account for how multiple factors influence tree-cooling effectiveness throughout the year. While most studies focus on the effects of individual factors, such as tree shading or transpiration, over specific time periods, fewer studies address the combined impact of various factors—such as seasonal variations, building shading, transpiration rates, tree placement, and spacing—on tree cooling across different seasons. This study fills this gap by investigating the thermal environment in downtown Los Angeles through ENVI-met simulations. A novel tree-planting strategy was developed to enhance cooling performance by adjusting tree positions based on these key factors. The results show that the new strategy reduces Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) temperatures by 2.2 °C on the hottest day, 0.97 °C on the coldest day, and 1.52 °C annually. The study also evaluates the negative cooling effects in colder months, demonstrating that, in cities with climates similar to Los Angeles, the benefits of tree cooling in hot weather outweigh the drawbacks during winter. These findings provide a new method for optimizing tree placement in urban planning, contributing to more effective UHI mitigation strategies.

Keywords: urban heat island (UHI); thermal environment; ENVI-met; UTCI; tree-cooling effect; seasonal variations; tree-planting strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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