Methods of trees evaluation with the site-specific effect for microclimate in urban environment: the case of study Nitra (Slovakia)

Abstract

Klein J., Rózová Z.: Methods of trees evaluation with the site-specific effect for microclimate in urban environment: the case of study Nitra (Slovakia). Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 36, No. 1, p. 40-51, 2017. Microclimatic factors in selected vegetation structures have been monitored in a compact historical built-up layout in the Nitra municipality. We have observed relationship between microclimatic factors (air temperature, relative air humidity and surface temperature) and microclimatic environment indices (MEI). MEI were created for selected trees with varied structure on the basis of synthesis of input data (layout samples of canopy layer and urban geometry). They point out the impact of trees and environment on microclimate in an urban environment during hot days. Surface temperature is a significant factor. The model shows that the surface temperature in various structures of trees and varied urban geometry could be identified through MEI. From the microclimatic point of view, the tree cover in the narrow street with 8 MEI has the greatest cooling effect. MEI from 8 to 13 proved the cooling effect with regard to the general diameter of the area. The higher the number of MEI, the lower is the cooling effect of the trees.

Urban Green Areas and Woody Plant Composition: Dwelling Space Quality Factor in the Klokočina Housing Estate

“…The study in the city of Poznan, Poland presented that coniferous canopy contributes less to the reduction of surface temperature than deciduous forest, where the reason for this is lower albedo of coniferous trees (Majkowska et al, 2017). When evaluating surface temperature and relative air humidity in Nitra, Slovakia, it was found that the cooling effect is dependent on the canopy shape and tree crown cover and reaches from 0.55 to 1.83 o C as compared to a street without green elements (Klein, Rózová, 2017). From the category of support services, many publications emphasize the development and maintenance of biodiversity, for example, amphibians, birds, mammals, insects (Goddard et al, 2010;Niemelä, 2014).…”

Effect of Vegetation Structure on Urban Climate Mitigation

“…Concerning the green areas greater than 10 hectares, the positive correlation and a good cooling effect was shown (Yu et al, 2018). When evaluating the microclimate factors of the urban vegetation (surface temperature and air humidity) in Nitra town, it was found that the cooling effect is dependent on the canopy shape and a tree crown cover and reaches a differential value of 0.55 °C to 1.83 °C, compared to the streets without any green areas (Klein and Rózová, 2017). The aim of the contribution is to present the microclimatic measurements in Nitra town territory with an emphasis on the differences in the compared areas of the urban green spaces and the open areas without greenery.…”