Dataset Information

Measuring the relationships between various urban green spaces and local climate zones.

ABSTRACT: Urban green spaces (UGS) improve living conditions in cities by mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect. While the cooling effect of UGS seems unequivocal, the relationship between the types of UGS and types of residential areas has not yet been well explored. In this study, we systematically analysed the cooling effect of 71 UGS in Prague, a central European city, on residential areas within 400 m of the UGS. The UGS are classified according to their spatial characteristics (size, shape, and tree density), and the residential areas according to three Local Climate Zones (LCZ 2, 5, 6) typical for European cities. The cooling effect is evaluated using a regression model of the Land Surface Temperature (LST) in residential zones according to the LCZ type and distance from the various UGS. The results show that compact UGS of 10-25 ha with dense trees have the most pronounced cooling effect. This type of UGS was associated with a mean decrease in LST within 400 m of 2.3 °C compared to the least effective UGS type (long with sparse trees) across LCZs. The results of the presented study can be applied in urban planning and urban design to improve microclimates in cities.

SUBMITTER: Kirschner V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10275979 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Measuring the relationships between various urban green spaces and local climate zones.

Kirschner Vlaďka V Macků Karel K Moravec David D Maňas Jan J

Scientific reports 20230616 1

Urban green spaces (UGS) improve living conditions in cities by mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect. While the cooling effect of UGS seems unequivocal, the relationship between the types of UGS and types of residential areas has not yet been well explored. In this study, we systematically analysed the cooling effect of 71 UGS in Prague, a central European city, on residential areas within 400 m of the UGS. The UGS are classified according to their spatial characteristics (size, shape, and tr ...[more]

PMID: 37328548

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Project description:BackgroundUrban green spaces are important for human health, but they may expose visitors to tick-borne diseases. This not only presents a potential public health challenge but also undermines the expected public health gains from urban green spaces. The aim of this study is to assess the public health risk of tick-borne diseases in an urban green space used for recreation in Stockholm, Sweden.MethodsWe used a mixed method approach identifying both the magnitude of the tick hazard and the extent of the human exposure to tick-borne diseases. At six entry points to an urban green space, we sampled ticks and documented microhabitat conditions from five randomly assigned 2 m × 2 m plots. Surrounding habitat data was analyzed using geographical information system (GIS). Nymphs and adult ticks were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum using TaqMan qPCR. Positive B. burgdorferi (s.l.) ticks were further analyzed by nested PCR amplification and sequence analysis. Population census data and visitor count data were used to estimate the degree of human exposure to tick-borne diseases. To further understand the degree to which visitors get in contact with infected ticks we also conducted interviews with visitors to green spaces.ResultsHigh tick densities were commonly found in humid broadleaved forest with low field vegetation. High pathogen prevalence was significantly correlated with increasing proportions of artificial areas. Integrating the tick hazard with human exposure we found that the public health risk of tick-borne diseases was moderate to high at most of the studied entry points. Many of the visitors frequently used urban green spaces. Walking was the most common activity, but visitors also engaged in activities with higher risk for tick encounters. Individual protective measures were connected to specific recreational activities such as picking berries or mushrooms.ConclusionsThe number of visitors can be combined with tick inventory data and molecular analyses of pathogen prevalence to make crude estimations of the public health risk of tick-borne diseases in urban green spaces. The risk of encountering infected ticks is omnipresent during recreational activities in urban green spaces, highlighting the need for public health campaigns to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases.

Dataset Information

Measuring the relationships between various urban green spaces and local climate zones.

Publications

Measuring the relationships between various urban green spaces and local climate zones.

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