Tiziana Susca
Positive Effects of Vegetation: Urban Heat Island (UHI) and Green Roofs
Susca, Tiziana; Gaffin, S. R.; Dell'Osso, G. R.
Authors
S. R. Gaffin
G. R. Dell'Osso
Abstract
This paper attempts to evaluate the positive effects of vegetation with a multi-scale approach: an urban and a building scale. Monitoring the urban heat island in four areas of New York City, we have found an average of 2 °C difference of temperatures between the most and the least vegetated areas, ascribable to the substitution of vegetation with man-made building materials. At micro-scale, we have assessed the effect of surface albedo on climate through the use of a climatological model. Then, using the CO(2) equivalents as indicators of the impact on climate, we have compared the surface albedo, and the construction, replacement and use phase of a black, a white and a green roof. By our analyses, we found that both the white and the green roofs are less impactive than the black one; with the thermal resistance, the biological activity of plants and the surface albedo playing a crucial role.
Citation
Susca, T., Gaffin, S. R., & Dell'Osso, G. R. (2010, June). Positive Effects of Vegetation: Urban Heat Island (UHI) and Green Roofs. Presented at Urban Environmental Pollution 2010. Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainability and Quality of Life
Presentation Conference Type | Presentation / Talk |
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Conference Name | Urban Environmental Pollution 2010. Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainability and Quality of Life |
Start Date | Jun 20, 2010 |
End Date | Jun 23, 2010 |
Deposit Date | Jun 22, 2018 |
Keywords | Urban heat island, green roofs, albedo, |
Public URL | http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1181041 |