Tired Of The Urban Heat Island Effect?

FYI from AMY: Enter the raffle for a 15 and 45 gallon tree, or attend
the opening and closing ceremonies for sapling giveaways. Learn how
you can get free trees to plant in parks and medians in your area to
reduce the heat. More info on CommuniTREE: http://www.EarthRhythms.org/

Addressing Dallas' Urban Heat Island Effect

What is the Urban Heat Island?

Like many metropolitan areas, Dallas’ is affected by an Urban Heat
Island (UHI), which is caused by the large concrete areas that are
warmer than the natural rural areas. Sometimes there is a 10-12 degree
temperature difference between the inner urban and rural areas. By its
nature, concrete, asphalt and buildings tend to absorb heat, and a
lack of trees as well as other plant life prevents natural cooling
from occurring. Additionally, the absence of vegetation that naturally
removes pollutants from the air can lead to poor air quality.

The committee is working with various city departments,
including Dallas’ Environment Quality Department on reducing the UHI
effect. In 1995, Texas Christian University professor, Dr. Ken Morgan,
conducted the city’s first urban heat island study, which showed a
large section of central and downtown Dallas having temperatures
several degrees warmer than the surrounding suburbs and countryside.
In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency commissioned its own
updated study on Dallas’ urban heat island areas providing further
research on this issue. This heat effect can impact not only Dallas’
environment, but also its quality of life by having hotter than normal
temperatures, higher energy bills, and poorer air quality.

Trees Can Cool Dallas

Reducing the urban heat island affect is challenging task; however,
one effective tool shown to lower urban temperatures and improve air
quality is the planting of trees. In fact, the 1995 study also
revealed that Oak Cliff, and its tree covered neighborhoods, had one
of the coolest temperatures compared to the rest of the city. Trees
can have a positive effect on urban heat island areas.

How Can Trees Reduce Dallas Temperatures?

Trees have many qualities well suited to reduce the urban heat island
affects:

Large trees can provide shade to block the sun’s heat.
Trees have a “moisture emitting” process, otherwise known as
evapotranspiration that cools the urban air temperature by releasing
moisture.
Trees need carbon dioxide to survive, and through its “breathing” or
photosynthesis process, significant amounts of carbon dioxide and
other pollutants are removed, such as sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide.
Taken together, trees can help cool urban temperatures and cleanse the
air, which improves Dallas’ quality of life.

What is UFAC doing to curb the Urban Heat Island?

UFAC is helping to reduce the UHI effect, by encouraging various tree
planting projects across Dallas - especially in the concrete laden
parts of our city. The Adopt-A-Median project, increased planting in
city parks and street medians, inclusive of other key tree planting
projects and obtaining funding and support for such projects are some
of the ways UFAC is helping to restore trees to Dallas urban areas and
reducing the heat island effect.

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