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UBC Theses and Dissertations

Thermal dynamics of residential landscapes : an analysis of ecosystem structure, services, and measurement methodologies Benson, Aubrey

Abstract

Extreme summertime heat is challenging cities like never before, being the number one weather-related cause of death in the USA and increasing in severity due to global climate change and rapid urbanization. As cities seek solutions, many are turning to artificial shade structures and air conditioning to combat rising temperatures. However, urban vegetation offers long-term, multi-faceted ecosystem services, such as temperature reduction through shading and evapotranspiration, and may enhance thermal comfort via aesthetics. Despite advancements in urban ecology, the linkages between urban ecosystem structure and biophysical outcomes like heat mitigation remain unclear, leaving land managers uncertain about how to maximize ecosystem services and minimize disservices on their property. This knowledge gap is largely due to a lack of fine-scale data capturing microclimate variations within cities. This research examined mechanisms influencing urban cooling and best practices for measuring thermal dynamics at the hyper-local scale. The studies were conducted on a residential landscape in the semi-arid city of Fort Collins, Colorado, from July to August 2023. 32 front yards, varying in cardinal direction, ground cover, and canopy cover, were selected for analysis, and thermal data were collected using a novel, mobile, biometeorology machine, MaRTa, and a smaller, handheld weather device, the Kestrel 5400. Chapter 2 quantified the impact of tree shade on cooling, identifying significant correlations between front yard tree canopy cover and temperature, while also challenging assumptions about the influence of cardinal direction on temperature reduction via shade and raising concerns about the impact of xeriscaping on urban heat. Chapter 3 provided recommendations for effective field methods and post-processing techniques to obtain mean radiant temperature based on the study’s field measurements, equipping researchers with more information on collecting critical hyper-local thermal data. This research provides a foundation for future studies on the linkages between ecosystem structure, function, and services, especially related to urban heat mitigation, and offers valuable insights for urban land managers to consider during decision-making.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International