Arboreal Urban Cooling Is Driven by Leaf Area Index, Leaf Boundary Layer Resistance, and Dry Leaf Mass per Leaf Area: Evidence from a System Dynamics Model

Heat waves are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Summer heat can be particularly deadly in cities, where temperatures already inflated by abundant impervious, dark surfaces (i.e., the island effect). Urban might ameliorated planting and maintaining urban forests. Previous observational research has suggested that conifers may effective cooling cities. However, nature of these studies prevented identification direct indirect mechanisms drive this differential cooling. Here, we develop a systems dynamics representation forests model effects percentage cover either or broadleaf trees on temperature. Our includes physiological morphological differences between trees, physical feedback among temperature energy fluxes. We apply case study Vancouver, BC, Canada. suggests temperate rainforest 1.0 °C cooler than trees; increases 1.2 when tree from 17% 22% 1.7 at 30% cover. three key traits: leaf area index, boundary layer resistance, dry mass per area. Creating optimize variables not only sequester CO2 mitigate global change but also most locally minimizing waves.