skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate

Abstract

In this paper we present results of our investigation into the relationship between urban microclimate and the local density of tree cover as measured in Sacramento, California. These results were obtained through analysis of data collected in a two-month long monitoring program with automatic weather stations installed at 15 residential locations throughout the city. Measured wind speeds showed a highly negative correlation with respect to tree cover. Daily peak air temperatures showed significant variation often differing from site to site by 2 to 4{degrees}C ({approx}3.5 to 7{degrees}F). A complex interaction between several competing factors is discussed leading to the conclusion that additional tree cover may actually increase urban air temperatures on synoptically cool days. It is suggested that this does not have a significant adverse affect in terms of overall summer urban cooling load. This is supported by an integrated analysis of the temperature data which yielded preliminary estimates indicating that residential cooling local (as measured by cooling degree days) may decrease by 5 to 10% per 10% increase in tree cover.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10103310
Report Number(s):
LBL-32419; CONF-9308157-1
ON: DE93040445
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 3. California Institute for Energy Efficiency (CIEE) annual conference,San Diego, CA (United States),4-6 Aug 1993; Other Information: PBD: Aug 1992
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; URBAN AREAS; AMBIENT TEMPERATURE; TREES; CORRELATIONS; WIND; TEMPERATURE MONITORING; CALIFORNIA; 540120; 540210; CHEMICALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT; BASIC STUDIES

Citation Formats

Sailor, D J, Rainer, L, and Akbari, H. Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Sailor, D J, Rainer, L, & Akbari, H. Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate. United States.
Sailor, D J, Rainer, L, and Akbari, H. 1992. "Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10103310.
@article{osti_10103310,
title = {Measured impact of neighborhood tree cover on microclimate},
author = {Sailor, D J and Rainer, L and Akbari, H},
abstractNote = {In this paper we present results of our investigation into the relationship between urban microclimate and the local density of tree cover as measured in Sacramento, California. These results were obtained through analysis of data collected in a two-month long monitoring program with automatic weather stations installed at 15 residential locations throughout the city. Measured wind speeds showed a highly negative correlation with respect to tree cover. Daily peak air temperatures showed significant variation often differing from site to site by 2 to 4{degrees}C ({approx}3.5 to 7{degrees}F). A complex interaction between several competing factors is discussed leading to the conclusion that additional tree cover may actually increase urban air temperatures on synoptically cool days. It is suggested that this does not have a significant adverse affect in terms of overall summer urban cooling load. This is supported by an integrated analysis of the temperature data which yielded preliminary estimates indicating that residential cooling local (as measured by cooling degree days) may decrease by 5 to 10% per 10% increase in tree cover.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10103310}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992},
month = {Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992}
}

Conference:
Other availability
Please see Document Availability for additional information on obtaining the full-text document. Library patrons may search WorldCat to identify libraries that hold this conference proceeding.

Save / Share: