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• s., t y '�/� / r� ,. \ \T i - jp mission European 4.--) I t\t\�y- •_ � K� 'Po-e�w_S 4„ 111, Science for Environment Policy rac) Even �r n , s can helptackle 4 :r� fec : Green spaces in cities can have a_cooling influence which helps reduce the 'urban heat island effect'. New research from Portugal has demonstrated that 19 March 2013 even a small community garden can provide a significant cooling impact that can Thematic Issue help efforts to adapt to climate change. 37: Ecosystem- based Adaptation Climate change is expected to cause hotter and drier summers in many locations, Subscribe to free increasing the 'urban heat island effect' where built-up areas become hotter than their rural weekly News Alert surroundings. Studies of urban green spaces of a few hectares or more frequently demonstrate cooling effects. This study set out to explore whether smaller green spaces Source: Oliveira, S., might also provide notable cooling benefits. A case study was undertaken of a Andrade, H., and Vaz,T. neighbourhood garden in Lisbon of only 0.24 hectares. (2011). The cooling effect of green spaces as a Garden Teofilo de Braga is situated in central Lisbon, a densely populated area. The garden contribution to the is mainly used by the elderly and young, age groups that are particularly vulnerable to heat mitigation of urban heat: stress. The park is most used during the afternoon when the sun is high. In summer, a a case study in Lisbon. Building and Environment. variety of trees provide canopy coverage of 96.5%. 46: 2186-2194. DOI: Data were recorded both within and beyond the garden over six hot summer days, three of 10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.0 which saw temperatures exceed 32°C, the threshold above which mortalities have been 4.034.. observed to increase. Both maximum and average temperatures were recorded, and an Contact: index assessing the impact of temperature on human biology, the 'Physiologically sisoliveira@hotmail.com Equivalent Temperature', which takes into account the biological effect of air temperature, long and short wave radiation, humidity, wind speed, and even people's clothing. Read more about: Climate change and Temperatures within the garden were often significantly cooler than nearby locations. The energy, Urban cooling effect was most marked on the hottest day, in which the garden's highest environment temperature was a 6.9°C cooler than surrounding locations. Mean temperatures and the impact on human physiology were also significantly lower within and close to the garden. The contents and views included in Science for The study demonstrated that small green spaces in cities can have a valuable cooling effect Environment Policy are that may extend for some distance beyond the park - 200 metres in this study, and based on independent, several hundred metres in another study of a 3 hectare garden in Japan. peer-reviewed research and do not necessarily reflect the position of the However, factors other than vegetation shading were recognised as important. The dry European Commission, Mediterranean climate of Lisbon was thought to cause more cooling from evaporation than To cite this comparable studies of gardens in more humid climates. Buildings and design of the article/service:"Science surrounding areas, the amount of shade and wind speeds, for example, can also affect for Environment Policy": temperatures both within and beyond green spaces. European Commission DG Envirdnment News Alert service, edited by In this study, a street with north-south orientation (and therefore receiving minimal scu,The university of the sunshine) and high shading by buildings and trees showed similar temperatures to those West of England, Bristol. within the garden. Such findings illustrate the value of using local data to better appreciate the potential cooling impacts in a given climate and urban form, and the factors which might encourage cooling.