Parks Under Stress: Air Temperature Regulation of Urban Green Spaces Under Conditions of Drought and Summer Heat

In times of urbanization and climate change, urban green spaces their ecosystem services are pivotal for adapting to extreme weather events such as heat drought. But what happens the provision when themselves compromised by drought? this study, we assessed air temperature regulation two structurally distinct inner-city parks in Leipzig, Germany, that were strongly affected drought periods 2018 2019. We used a dense network in-situ measurements machine learning create spatially explicit maps distribution at fine-scale neighborhood level 24 h period during summer wave The results showed larger, tree-dominated park could maintain relative coolness any time, whereas other rather open, grass-dominated was heated daytime but provided relatively cool night early morning. found maximum averaged cooling effect versus built-up surroundings 1.1°C afternoon, however, temperatures peaked nearly 40°C, limited shaded areas, leading average differences between below 1°C. Our indicated “cooling distances” spaces, i.e., effects extend beyond boundaries park, negligible dry hot conditions. conclude vegetation structure, particularly configuration trees, is key designing drought-resilient thus maintaining service under challenges change. Urban planning needs account larger complemented decentralized, well-distributed small-scale infrastructure intersperses built roadside greenery vegetated backyards.