Distance and Intensity of Microclimatic Influence Provided by Urban Forest Typologies

• Main Authors: Angeline Martini, Daniela Biondi, Antônio Carlos Batista
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro 2018-03-01
• Series: Floresta e Ambiente
• Subjects: urban microclimate; microclimatic benefit; afforestation
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2179-80872018000200113&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT The main goal of this study was to determine the radius and intensity of the influence that different urban forest typologies exert on their surroundings. Thus, three distinct areas were selected for each type of urban forest: Remaining Forest, Old Green Area, Modern Green Area, Street Trees and Isolated Trees. The influence of these typologies on the surrounding microclimate was determined by mobile transects, collecting data every 50 m from a total route of 500 m in an adjacent street. In general, the influence radius of the urban forest on its surroundings was 200 m, while the Remaining Forest typology reached 250 m. On average, the influence intensity of urban forest at a distance of 50 m was 0.66ºC, at 100 m it was 0.45ºC, at 150 m it was 0.34ºC, and at 200 m it was 0.30ºC, but each typology varied. All microclimate results were more pronounced in summer. We concluded that the urban forest exerts a significant climatic influence on its surroundings, regardless of the typology.