The impact of urban greening and urban geometry on the microclimate at the neighborhood level in hot arid climates

Abstract

One of the negative impacts of climate change is the increase in global temperatures and the worsening climate conditions in cities. Urban green spaces are being considered as a potential mitigation strategy to regulate the microclimate conditions and hence several studies examine their potential effect on microclimate. However, urban geometry is also believed to influence the microclimate. In fact both greening and geometry affect the microclimate conjointly. This study examines the mutual effect of both urban greening and geometry on microclimate based on mobile field measurements at local scale (neighborhood scale). Two study areas representing different urban tissues, a historic and a modern neighborhood, were selected with a total of 26 sites in both areas examined in terms of meteorological and physical spatial characteristics. Results of regression analysis show no major differences in microclimate conditions between the two areas. Despite the similar microclimate in both areas, factors influencing such similar conditions differ greatly in both locations. The results of this study emphasize the need for considering several aspects of the built environment jointly (e.g. urban greening and geometrical characteristics) when studying the effect of built environment on microclimate in order to achieve a better understanding of the complex relationships between the built environment and the urban climate.