Investigating the Effects of Tropical Plant Community Structures on Energy Exchange in Urban Green Areas for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Abstract

Urban green spaces are crucial for the exchange of energy fluxes, particularly sensible heat (QH) and latent heat (QE) fluxes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of plant communities in urban green areas that affect turbulent fluxes, specifically QH and QE. The energy balance was measured using an eddy covariance system tower set up in three green areas at Kasetsart University: the Varunawan Garden (S1), the 100-Year Garden of Luang Suwan Vajokkasikit (S2), and the Phaholyothin Garden (S3). The results show that the canopy coverages of trees in S1, S2, and S3 were 526.23, 895.81, and 756.70 m2, respectively. The Bowen ratios (QH/QE) during the daytime in S1, S2, and S3 were 1.75, 1.09, and 1.43, respectively. These relationships suggest that dense trees, a dense canopy layer top, and the presence of water sources within the green areas resulted in a higher latent heat flux and a lower proportion of sensible heat flux. The findings of this study can be used as a guideline for the development and improvement of plant community structures in green areas within urban climate change adaptation.