About the Project
In partnership with the City of Boulder, University of Colorado, Boulder researchers are investigating how different tree species can be used to help mitigate the urban heat effect and cool Boulder.
This project has been permitted by the City of Boulder Parks & Recreation Department and is supported by the Climate Initiatives Team at the City of Boulder. We thank the Garden Club of America, the CU Boulder Undergraduate Research Opportunities Office, the CU Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and the CU Nature-based Solutions Initiative for providing funding for this project.
This project has been permitted by the City of Boulder Parks & Recreation Department and is supported by the Climate Initiatives Team at the City of Boulder. We thank the Garden Club of America, the CU Boulder Undergraduate Research Opportunities Office, the CU Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and the CU Nature-based Solutions Initiative for providing funding for this project.
What is the urban heat effect?
Urban communities such as Boulder experience higher temperatures than surrounding areas because their impervious surfaces—such as concrete and asphalt—absorb and retain more heat than natural landscapes. This is referred to as the urban heat island effect. Mitigating this effect is important because extreme urban heat can negatively affect human health, increase energy costs, and reduce quality of life. Vegetation in cities, especially trees, can reduce urban heat. The goal of this project is to identify the tree species that are the best at cooling urban temperatures.
How will this project help the city?
The findings from this project will help inform which tree species should be planted in the city in order to improve the City of Boulder's climate resiliency.
Urban communities such as Boulder experience higher temperatures than surrounding areas because their impervious surfaces—such as concrete and asphalt—absorb and retain more heat than natural landscapes. This is referred to as the urban heat island effect. Mitigating this effect is important because extreme urban heat can negatively affect human health, increase energy costs, and reduce quality of life. Vegetation in cities, especially trees, can reduce urban heat. The goal of this project is to identify the tree species that are the best at cooling urban temperatures.
How will this project help the city?
The findings from this project will help inform which tree species should be planted in the city in order to improve the City of Boulder's climate resiliency.
Research in Your Local Parks
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Did you find our sensors? You may have noticed one (or more!) of our sensors in your City of Boulder public parks. Please do not disturb any sensors. These sensors are continuously collecting air and soil temperature and moisture data to help us understand the temperature impacts of different tree species. If you see a damaged sensor, or have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. |
What else are we collecting? We are also collecting plant samples to understand why certain tree species may be better at cooling than others. This does not harm the trees. These plant samples allow us to study their "functional traits" – measurable properties of plant structures. These traits influence how plants affect flows of energy and water, and therefore may control how much cooling trees provide. |
This project is supported by:
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