At a time when countries around the world are experiencing record-high temperatures and heat waves, the need to address urban heat and climate change is front and center. Compounded by the heat island effect, cities worldwide are experiencing days of extreme heat exposure at 3x the rate they did in 1980 — and with that comes a sharp rise in heat-related illnesses.
In fact, NOAA data shows that heat already kills more people in the US than hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather events. A study by Duke University estimates that this adds up to an estimated 12,000 premature deaths per year.
An important part of the solution? Trees. Scientists have found that when done thoughtfully, planting urban trees and enhancing urban forests and urban green canopy can lower air temperatures in city neighborhoods by up to 10 degrees. And in a rapidly warming world, that could mean the difference between life and death for some city dwellers.
Simply put, urban heat islands are areas within urban and suburban environments that experience elevated temperatures — especially when compared to rural areas. When homes, businesses and industrial buildings are built close together, they generate, trap and store heat, which significantly increases surrounding air temperatures.
Another source of heat that may come as surprise? People. Whether it's driving a car or powering a factory, any time that people burn off energy, they are probably generating heat. When there are a lot of people engaged in a lot of activities close together, this "waste heat" can combine with other heat sources to create a pretty significant temperature increase.
In heavily populated areas with tall, close-together buildings and busy roadways, there's little opportunity for hot air to escape, thus creating Urban Heat Islands.
According to the US EPA, "the annual mean air temperature of a city with one million or more people can be 1.8 to 5.4°F (1 to 3°C) warmer than its surroundings — and on a clear, calm night, this temperature difference can be as much as 22°F (12°C)." Given the rise of heat waves and record-setting temperatures, we probably don't need to tell you that that's a big deal. And as you may have guessed, Urban Heat Islands are especially pronounced in larger cities — but smaller cities and towns also experience them.
In general, temperatures are different at the earth's surface and at the atmospheric level, which is the air high above the city. To help us understand, climate scientists talk about two types of heat islands: surface heat islands and atmospheric heat islands.
If you've ever enjoyed the shade of a tree on a hot summer day, you already understand the importance of green urban spaces! Trees and vegetation reduce surface and air temperatures by providing shade — in fact, shaded surfaces, for example, can be as much as 20–45°F cooler than unshaded areas at peak temperature. How? During the sunnier seasons, an urban tree's leaves and branches only allow about 10-30% of solar radiation to reach the area below their canopy. The rest of the solar energy is absorbed through the tree's leaves for photosynthesis — or reflected back into the atmosphere. To harness this powerful benefit, trees should be planted in strategic locations around buildings or paved areas like streets and parking lots.
Simply put, evapotranspiration is the process of transferring moisture from the earth into the atmosphere via evaporation. Trees and plants do this by absorbing water through their roots and releasing it via their leaves when solar rays hit their canopy. Water is also released as vapor gas from plant surfaces such as tree trunks and the surrounding soil. Evapotranspiration — alone or in combination with shade-related temperature reductions — can help reduce peak summer temperatures by an estimated 2–9°F (1–5°C). This process reduces temperatures by taking heat from the air and using it to evaporate water, similarly to how sweating helps cool our skin. This reduces the amount of heat energy that's left in the air.
According to the US Department of Energy, carefully positioned trees can reduce a home’s energy costs by 25% — including air conditioning. While switching to renewable energy would also help, this reduces the pressure that's put on our power grid during heat waves, helping to prevent catastrophic power failures. How? Research shows that planting deciduous trees in strategic locations around buildings helps to reduce the amount of solar energy that they absorb — especially if these trees shade windows and part of the building’s roof. At a time when extreme heat forces urban dwellers to rely on expensive air conditioning to stay safe, this is more vital than ever. Another benefit? When fans and air conditioners don't have to run as much, they release less "waste heat" into the atmosphere.
In 2021, members of our Urban Forestry team conducted research at an urban forest installation in Miami, FL. Using heat traps, they recorded temperatures both outside of the installation and inside to determine how much the trees reduced temperatures. Read the PDF Case Study to learn about their findings!
With temperatures that regularly rise above 100 degrees F, Phoenix, Arizona is considered America's hottest city. In fact, they're already experiencing temperatures that are 2.5 degrees hotter than they were in the middle of the last century, and this is only projected to increase. Researchers at the School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning at Arizona State University ran decade-long climate simulations and found that, when compared with conditions in 2000, Phoenix and other fast growing Sunbelt cities will see the “largest relative changes in population heat exposure."
To help address this, our awesome partner Trees Matter planted 33 15-gallon trees and engaged approximately 1,000 students and staff at a Title I school that's located near a highway and many asphalt-heavy industries. As part of the effort, students learned about the importance of planting trees, and each class spent 30 minutes helping to get them in the ground. They even got to name the trees they planted, which will help foster a deeper connection.
Our partner plans to have a lasting relationship with the elementary school and will continue to engage with staff and students long after the planting. Teachers will be given free access to environmental education resources to continue student engagement with their school’s canopy, including a database with over 200 resources, lesson plans, and tree inventory activity boxes.
Thanks to a history of under-investment — and a high concentration of asphalt concrete and other heat-absorbing materials — West Phoenix is greatly affected by tree inequity and the Urban Heat Island effect. As a result, heat illness is critically high and air conditioning is a major expense. Fortunately, the planted trees will help to reduce costs, as well as the pressure put on these systems at the school. In addition to cooling the school buildings, trees will help cool down the playground and fields, allowing kids to play more safely outside. In this area, our partner has seen that trees can reduce surface temperatures by up 10-15 degrees!
In addition to the above mentioned benefits — and with the help of the iTree Design tool — our partners determined that in the first year after planting, the new trees would:
In the context of a rapidly changing climate, planting trees is an essential strategy to protect urban populations and reduce climate change. Looking for a way to make an impact today? Consider supporting our Fund for Urban Forestry!
Meaghan works to share our story far and wide, manages our blog calendar, coordinates with the team on projects + campaigns, and ensures our brand voice is reflected across channels. With a background in communications and an education in environmental conservation, she is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment!
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