Enhancing the Understanding of Urban Green Space Cooling Effects in China's Major Cities With a Sub-Meter Dataset
MCML Authors
Xiaoxiang Zhu
Prof. Dr.
Principal Investigator
Abstract
Xiaoxiang Zhu
Prof. Dr.
Principal Investigator
Abstract
Urban green space (UGS) plays a vital role in mitigating the urban heat island effect, yet studies on its cooling impacts in major Chinese cities remain limited and yield inconsistent results. Most existing research focuses on individual cities and relies on low- to medium-resolution datasets, which may lead to inaccurate estimates. This study addresses this gap by developing a high-resolution, sub-meter UGS dataset covering densely populated Chinese cities. We employ econometric methods to assess the cooling effect of UGS while controlling for other factors influencing land surface temperature (LST). Results reveal an overall LST reduction of $2.972^circ$C associated with UGS presence, and a one-standard-deviation increase in UGS corresponds to an approximate $0.123^circ$C LST decrease. Beyond the overall effect, we observe substantial spatial variation: UGS cooling is stronger in public and residential areas, open and high-rise environments, higher elevations, and drier climates. However, extreme heat diminishes UGS effectiveness, highlighting the need to strengthen green infrastructure in hotter regions. Notably, super-large cities show weaker cooling despite considerable UGS coverage, indicating inefficiencies in UGS configuration. These findings underscore the dependence of UGS effectiveness on local climatic and geographical conditions and highlight the significance of high-resolution UGS data in serving as a foundation for evidence-based urban climate adaptation strategies. The dataset is publicly released to support future research in this area. Overall, this study advances the understanding of UGS as a nature-based solution and provides insights into enhancing urban resilience to climate change.
BibTeXKey: ZZG+25