The Effects of Different Vegetation Types on Local Climate

Abstract

In the present days the effects of the global climate change can be observed everywhere. The negative impacts of this phenomenon, especially temperature rising, can be felt significantly in the cities of Central Europe. In these areas the effects of the global temperature rising and the urban heat island intensify each other. However, these phenomena grant the opportunity to find the most suitable vegetation types for moderating the warming up of such urban areas. The aim of this study is to provide support in determining these vegetation types. The examined area is Budapest, the capital of Hungary. This city has a wide selection of various urban green surfaces; consequently as a result of the examination it shall become clear which of these are the best vegetation types and the best vegetation structures in respect of the positive climatic effects. With the help of this study it shall also be clarified how the strength of this moderating effect depends on the water supply of the plants. The importance of this question lies within the fact that depending on the water supply different vegetation types may have totally different effects. Thus the main plant species and the structure of the canopy layers must be taken into thorough consideration. A collection of thermal infrared satellite images serve as the main source of data for this study. These images were produced in the last decade. They thoroughly show the thermal attributes of the examined area (green surface). The other important source of information is the examination of those structure species and vegetation types which are the most efficient in reducing the negative climate impacts under urban circumstances. The water supply dependence of this reducing effect is also very important piece of information.

The Possibilities of Decreasing the Urban Heat Island

“…only 2-3°C. Considering furthermore the wide repertoire of shading tools and double facades of the contemporary architecture, which are used for reducing the warming up of these buildings in the summer period, it can be said that simply the shading effect of the trees (without even considering their metabolism) is a very significant urban heat island reducing factor on its own (Olah, 2010b). …”

Quantitative analysis of the impacts of terrestrial environmental factors on precipitation variation over the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone in Coastal Southwest China

“…Previous research showed that precipitation can increase 4 5 6 with the growth of forest coverage. Different vegetation types also have distinct impacts on the surrounding climate 7 . For example, a coniferous broad-leaved forest and its analogues have a greater impact than other vegetation types on the change of the average annual precipitation trend 8 .…”