Abstract
Green roofs ought to be perceived as ensuring a wide-ranging contribution to the sustainable urban environment. The aim of the study was; (1) to investigate and analyse the differences in the surface temperature between four models of green roofs of the extensive type and a conventional roof (covered with bitumen) under the conditions of a continental climate; (2) to assess the influence of environmental parameters (climatic water balance, air temperature, relative humidity, moisture content in the profile) on changes in the temperature of the extensive type green roof profile (substrate and vegetation mat). The study (1) was carried out during the period of June–December 2016 using a thermal imaging camera. As a result, the greatest differences in temperature were noted in June and July, with a maximum difference between the temporary surface temperature of a green roof and a conventional roof of up to 24 °C. The (2) study was conducted on a green roof profile with sedum plant vegetation. The measured parameters were: the temperature of the surface, the temperature and humidity at depths of 3 cm and 15 cm, and active radiation in the photosynthesis process (PAR). As the result, the range of daily changes in the surface temperatures and the vegetation mat were higher than the range of changes in the air temperature. Atmospheric precipitation decreased the thermal gradient in the soil, as well as the temperature fluctuations in the course of a day as a result of the increase in humidity following a rainfall. During the summer period, over the course of a day, the surface temperature was 5 °C higher than the air temperature. The largest correlation was obtained between the air temperature and the temperature of the surface as well as the temperature of the structural layers.
Highlights
In 2008, for the first time in history, half of planet Earth’s population resided in cities, whereas in the EU three-quarters of the population already fall into this category [1]
One of the advantages of green roofs is the protection of the structural layers of the roof against solar radiation, enabling the lowering of temperature and minimizing temperature fluctuations
The first phase of the study performed during the June–September period of 2016 showed that the average surface temperatures of green roofs were 25.7–26.9 ◦C, whereas it was 32.6 ◦C for the roof covered with bitumen
Summary
In 2008, for the first time in history, half of planet Earth’s population resided in cities, whereas in the EU three-quarters of the population already fall into this category [1]. Large cities are facing problems of smog and the consequences of climate change—the phenomena of urban heat islands, storms, urban flooding and flash floods [2,3,4]. In addition to thermal aspects, there are many other arguments supporting the application of green roofs, terraces and walls on a large scale in urban areas: they counteract climate changes and reduce the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere, nullify the negative effects of urbanization, reduce smog [15,16,17], retain rainwater and delay runoff [18,19,20,21], suppress noise, create friendly living and leisure space, and improve the aesthetics of buildings [22,23]. Depending on the depth of the substrate, the type of plants and irrigation requirements, two types of green roofs can be distinguished, i.e., extensive and intensive
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