Enhancing Microclimate Sustainability: The Impact of Blue–Green–Gray Underlying Surfaces in Stormwater Parks Under Subtropical Monsoon Climates

Ziyan Lu, Tongxin Zhong, Yue Qiao, Guiyi Wu and Haishun Xu ()
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Ziyan Lu: The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Tongxin Zhong: The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Yue Qiao: Jiangsu Fangyang Construction Engineering Management Co., Ltd., Lianyungang 222000, China
Guiyi Wu: China Railway 22nd Bureau Group Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., Beijing 100043, China
Haishun Xu: The College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-24

Abstract: As a type of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), stormwater parks play a crucial role in mitigating urban heat and managing stormwater, especially in subtropical monsoon climates where high temperatures and rainfall coincide. The benefits of microclimate improvement are associated with the specific surface types of stormwater parks. However, research on how different surfaces affect the microclimates of stormwater parks remains limited. This study utilized an unmanned aerial vehicle to investigate the surface temperature characteristics of blue–green–gray underlying surfaces within a stormwater park and employed multiple linear regression to analyze their impact on the microclimate. The results indicated that (1) blue underlying surfaces functioned as a stable cold source in dry periods but warmed quickly after rainfall. (2) Green surfaces consistently provided a cooling effect on the microclimate, with cooling intensity intricately related to vegetation structure. Specifically, the cooling effects of arbor–shrub–grass and arbor–shrub combinations were greater than those of other plant configurations. (3) The warming effect of gray underlying surfaces was affected by weather conditions and permeability, with pervious concrete exhibiting lower surface temperatures than impervious pavements during dry spells, although this difference diminished significantly after rain. These findings provide scientific evidence and design guidance for enhancing the sustainability of microclimates.

Keywords: underlying surface; microclimate sustainability; urban heat island; stormwater park; land surface temperature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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