Tree canopy cover slashes temperatures by 13.9°C, transforming urban comfort.
Increasing the number of trees on city streets can help reduce the effects of climate change on public health. A study in Wuhan, China, looked at how tree canopy cover affects human comfort in hot, humid areas. They found that streets with more tree cover had lower temperatures and felt cooler, especially at noon. In these areas, air temperatures and radiant temperatures can be significantly reduced compared to streets without trees. Blocking sunlight and increasing wind speed are more effective ways to make people feel more comfortable than trying to change air temperature or humidity.