In the Open Garden, the cooling effect of trees on the urban climate is measured

Brno - Experts from Mendel University are completing the installation of measuring devices at the Open Garden of the Partnership Foundation, which will allow monitoring the impact that trees and the green roof of the education center have on the urban microclimate. The foundation is also enhancing detailed monitoring of the energy and water balance in the center's low-energy buildings. Starting in October, all measurements will be accessible online on a public website, and both partners will use real data for educational programs focused on urban adaptation to climate change for primary and secondary school students as well as university students. The project is supported by Norwegian funds.

Unique Measurements in the Open Garden

"The sensors embedded in the trunks of four maples allow us to continuously measure how much water the roots absorb from the soil and subsequently how much water the trees evaporate, and how they cool the environment in doing so. When water changes from liquid to vapor, heat is consumed. We also measure the evaporation and the entire water balance of the green roof. Green areas have a tremendous significance in cities for mitigating extreme temperature fluctuations," says Prof. Petr Maděra from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology at MENDELU.
"It will be interesting to compare the cooling performance of these natural surfaces with modern technologies in the buildings of the Partnership Foundation, which use renewable energy sources from deep wells to maintain pleasant indoor temperatures," looks forward to the monitoring results Miroslav Kundrata, director of the Partnership Foundation.

Green Roof

The comparison of rainwater runoff from the green roof and from the adjacent flat roof will also be unique. "Both have the same area, but not a drop of water runs off the green roof for most of the growing season, which we have observed over 31 months of operation, during which we collect all rainwater from the site into tanks and use it for flushing and watering the gardens. Green roofs and any infiltration surfaces also cool the microclimate, but primarily they retain water and slow down runoff after heavy rainfall. Thus, the city does not need to build such capacious drainage systems,” adds Kundrata.