Leveraging trees as a climate regulation ecosystem services and a design tool by utilizing surface temperature at the census tract level

Keywords: Tree canopy, tree cover, urban heat island, climate regulation, ecosystem services, health, planning, policy, ordinances, design
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 47

Abstract

One impact of climate change on cities is urban heat island, a situation worsened by the removal of trees to make room for more built structures and impervious surfaces. Yet the smart principles of managing urban growth, encouraging infill and alleviating sprawl often result in tree canopy loss which increases UHI. Current policies allow mitigation of trees off site, but does this practice have detrimental effects on new and infilled urban development? Trees provide reduced temperatures, improved air quality, habitat and improve human health however the spacing, canopy coverage and effects of mitigation of trees when development occurs has not been well documented.

Our study measures the surface temperature at the census tract level in nine neighborhood types as defined by the Charlotte 2040 Plan. Tree coverage as a percent of land area and surface temperature from multiple points within each tract are compared over 10 years of growth for Charlotte, NC. Results of this study will evaluate different tree locations and spatial form based on surface temperature in each neighborhood type.